Barcelona and Actual Madrid are wanting over their shoulders in La Liga at in-form Atletico Madrid, cautious of a letdown after taxing wins away from residence within the Champions League this week. A 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund ensured Barcelona will advance to the knockout section of Europe’s high membership competitors, whereas Madrid received by the identical scoreline away to a beforehand unbeaten Atalanta. That win stored the holders in rivalry for automated qualification to the final 16, however Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted the match drained loads of vitality from his injury-hit squad.
“It was a troublesome match as a result of Atalanta demanded so much from us bodily,” stated Ancelotti, whose facet path leaders Barcelona by two factors however have a recreation in hand.
Vinicius Junior scored on his return from a hamstring harm in Italy on an evening Kylian Mbappe netted his fiftieth Champions League objective earlier than going off injured.
“We now have to hold in there till Christmas,” added Ancelotti, who additionally welcomed again Rodrygo and is anticipating to have Eduardo Camavinga match once more quickly.
“The calendar may be very demanding, we have now a diminished squad and that does not permit us to rotate gamers as a lot. We now have to hold in there in the intervening time.”
Madrid make the brief journey to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday understanding they will snatch high spot from Barcelona, for twenty-four hours at the very least, earlier than subsequent week’s Intercontinental Cup last in Qatar.
However they might be with out Mbappe as a result of hamstring drawback he suffered on Tuesday.
“Mbappe has some discomfort in his hamstrings. It would not appear severe however we’ll see,” Ancelotti stated after the Atalanta recreation.
“He could not dash, it harm him a bit and we thought it greatest to switch him.”
Barcelona host a struggling Leganes on Sunday making an attempt to arrest their home dip in kind, with a run of 1 win in 5 video games opening the door to their title rivals.
Atletico are three factors adrift of Barcelona having additionally performed a recreation much less, and have received 5 in a row in La Liga going into Sunday’s residence derby with Getafe.
Not far behind are Athletic Bilbao, whose 2-0 win at Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on Wednesday pushed them nearer to the Europa League final 16.
Athletic, unbeaten in 12 video games in all competitions, are going for a fifth straight league win away to Alaves this weekend, whereas Villarreal and Actual Betis meet in a conflict of groups whose outcomes have tailed off lately.
Participant to look at: Julian Alvarez
The Argentine is Atletico’s high scorer with 12 targets general since his August arrival from Manchester Metropolis.
The 24-year-old left England looking for a brand new problem after largely enjoying second fiddle to Erling Haaland regardless of his vital function in his nation’s 2022 World Cup triumph.
Alvaraz set Atletico on their strategy to a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava midweek with a terrific curling effort earlier than Antoine Griezmann’s double sealed the factors.
“He is an awesome participant,” stated Griezmann, who himself is in a wealthy vein of kind with seven targets in his final 5 outings. “It is a pleasure and a supply of delight to have him with us and to have the ability to assist him.”
Key stats
5 – after failing to attain till November 9, Jude Bellingham has now discovered the online in every of Madrid’s final 5 league video games
8 – months since Valencia’s final away league win, a 1-0 victory at Osasuna in April
10 – consecutive wins for Atletico in La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey
Fixtures (all occasions GMT)
Friday
Valladolid v Valencia (2000)
Saturday
Espanyol v Osasuna (1300), Mallorca v Girona (1515), Sevilla v Celta Vigo (1730), Rayo Vallecano v Actual Madrid (2000)
Sunday
Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1300), Alaves v Athletic Bilbao (1515), Villarreal v Actual Betis, Actual Sociedad v Las Palmas (each 1730), Barcelona v Leganes (2000)
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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