Spain political crisis lingers over La Liga

SPAIN’S political crisis continues to form a cloud over La Liga with eyes just as much on the stands once more at Barcelona’s Camp Nou as the field for Malaga’s visit today.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid will be expected to put their stuttering home form to right when struggling Basque minnows Eibar visit the Santiago Bernabeu.

Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are in need of a lift after nightmare long trips east in the Champions League in midweek, while La Liga’s entertainers Real Betis will look to continue their free-scoring form against Alaves.

Barca’s neutral stance of pleading for dialogue as the standoff between the Spanish and Catalan governments continues to escalate, has seen the club criticised from both sides of the political extremes.

An annual general meeting of the club’s members will take place today before kick-off at the Camp Nou, providing a platform for those unhappy with president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s management of the crisis to air their grievances.

On the field, Barca have made light of all manner of distractions this season to perform far better than expected. In Ernesto Valverde’s first 11 Liga and Champions League games in charge, Barca have won 10 and earned a valuable point at Atletico last weekend.

Bottom-of-the-table Malaga should pose little threat to that unbeaten record. Fixtures: Today: Levante v Getafe, Real Betis v Alaves, Valencia v Sevilla, Barcelona v Malaga.

Tomorrow: Villarreal v Las Palmas, Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid, Leganes v Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid v Eibar. — AFP