Bale out again!
As Real Madrid head to San Mames, a ground where they’ve not always been at their best, the least surprising news is that they’ll have to do so without Gareth Bale.
The official line is that the Welshman is being re-introduced to the side gradually after a long period out, but the suspicion is that, in fact, he has succumbed to yet another injury.
After a super cameo against Fuenlabrada, where Bale showed in half an hour just what Los Blancos have been missing, for him then to be ‘rested’ makes no sense whatsoever, particularly as Zinedine Zidane had suggested that he couldn’t wait to see BBC back together again.
Athletic Bilbao will be smarting after a shock defeat to Formentera in the Copa del Rey. A 96th-minute header from Cegarra sent Los Leones packing, and the locals will be expecting an immediate reaction against a team that have been far from their best all season.
Sergio Ramos won’t be risked either, and Marco Asensio is unlikely to be fit either. Athletic’s keeper, Kepa, is wanted by Real too, and this is the perfect opportunity to assess his credentials.
Atleti to remain unbeaten
Real Sociedad are another team to head into the weekend’s fixtures on the back of a cup defeat to lower league opposition, in their case from a position of being 2-0 up and cruising.
The insouciance their players showed after leading so comfortably will have been a lesson to them all and coach Eusebio Sacristan was rightly furious.
Though he’ll drum into them the importance of an immediate riposte, he’ll not get it at Atletico Madrid. With only six goals conceded all season, the rojiblancos have the best defence in the league behind Barcelona.
Diego Simeone’s side might not be the swashbucklers of old, but they are still getting the job done.
They’ll be tested by the likes of Mikel Oyarzabal and Willian Jose, no doubt, but with Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro back amongst the goals, there’s only one winner here.
Cruise control for Barca
The Catalans welcome back their old assistant, Juan Carlos Unzue, who has had a mixed time at Celta Vigo.
His methods have had appropriate buy-in from his staff, but their execution has been found wanting on occasion.
Their only two wins on the road in the league this season have been against teams in the bottom five.
Easy to break down, Barca should have easy pickings in this one, whilst remaining resolute at the back in the face of Iago Aspas’ excellence.
His star isn’t shining as bright as 18 months ago, but the former Liverpool star is still Celta’s best hope of goals.
At this point, Barcelona’s only enemy is themselves with complacency being the one thing that could potentially derail their ambitions.
With many of their first team rested for the Copa del Rey win over Murcia, they’ll be refreshed and ready.
Lionel Messi is two away from equalling Gerd Muller’s all-time record of goals scored for one club in the top European leagues. He’s also one assist away from his 200th in La Liga.
Don’t bet against it!
Getafe to take advantage of Guedes-less Valencia?
The neutrals are loving Valencia’s resurgence this season, and rightly so. Los Che have been the team to watch in the league so far in 2017/18.
One of the chief reasons for their rise has been the form of Goncalo Guedes, their loan signing from Paris Saint-Germain.
His skill set was there for all to see against Barcelona, breaking at pace and putting the Blaugrana on the back foot, something no other team have done this season, with the possible exception of Getafe.
Only the late intervention of substitutes Denis Suarez and Paulinho saw Barca take all three points from the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Real Madrid were similarly held until a late winner from Cristiano Ronaldo. Without Guedes prompting and driving Marcelino’s side forward, Valencia will find life a little more difficult in the capital.
Girona’s dream continues
In their first season in La Liga, Girona have surpassed all expectations.
Currently sat in 10th position, they seem to have managed what Eibar had before them; a ‘minnow’ (with respect) consolidating themselves in the top flight.
What’s more, Pablo Machin’s side have done so playing a hugely entertaining brand of football, as the win against Real Madrid showed.
By contrast, Alaves, who were winning similar plaudits last season, have sunk like a stone.
Bottom of the division and already onto their third manager after they dispensed with the services of Gianni de Biasi, the Basque’s look doomed already.
Six points from safety isn’t so big a gap that it can’t be bridged, but the playing staff are so demotivated that it will seem like an almighty chasm.
Even the likes of ex-Barca stars Munir El Haddadi and Bojan Krkic up front have done nothing to cure their ills.
