Barca aim to bounce back
Catalans must pick themselves up after their Clasico defeat while Real visit Betis on Sunday
BARCELONA coach Quique Setien insists his team’s defeat in last weekend’s Clasico was not important and there is a long way to go in La Liga’s title race, as his team welcome Real Sociedad on Sunday. There are 12 matches remaining and Real Madrid have a one-point advantage at the top of the table, as well as a better head to head record.
It may prove that the team who makes the fewest mistakes wins the league, rather than the better side, and both Madrid and Barcelona have tricky matches this weekend as the title run-in begins.
Sociedad will still be on a high after beating Mirandes to reach the Copa del Rey final yesterday, while Real Madrid travel south to face Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin.
Barcelona are still without injured forwards Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele, with Martin Braithwaite hoping for his first start after joining in February from Leganes as an emergency signing.
Talisman Lionel Messi is in inconsistent form, having scored in only one of his last seven matches – although he struck four against Eibar in that game.
“Leo is a very important player (but) we cannot be obsessed with him being the only player,” said Setien.
“(The Clasico defeat) doesn’t have great meaning, they (Madrid) are a point ahead and the title race can take many turns yet.”
Real Madrid are similarly hampered in attack with Eden Hazard’s latest injury setback, set to keep him out for another three months, while striker Karim Benzema has only scored two goals in his last 14 matches.
However Vinicius Junior has come to the fore in recent weeks.
Elsewhere, Atletico
Madrid host Sevilla on
Saturday as Diego
Simeone’s side look to earn a crucial win
than without Jadon,” he said.
Dortmund, in third place on 48 points behind Bayern and RB Leipzig, have won nine straight games against Gladbach.
Bayern, 6-0 winners at Hoffenheim last week, host fellow Bavarians Augsburg in Munich on Sunday.
Leipzig, on 49 points, travel to VfL Wolfsburg tomorrow.
Other matches tomorrow are Paderborn vs FC Koln, Bayer
Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt, Schalke 04 vs Hoffenheim and
Freiburg vs Union Berlin. – Reuters over a direct rival for a Champions League spot.
Sevilla are third, with 46 points from 26 games, while Atletico are fifth and two points behind, with Getafe sandwiched between on 45 points. The weekend’s other fixtures are Alaves vs Valencia, Eibar vs Mallorca, Getafe vs Celta Vigo, Osasuna vs Espanyol, Real Valladolid vs Athletic Bilbao, Levante vs Granada and Villarreal vs Leganes. – dpa
Mainichi