Decisive match for Barca and Atletico Madrid in La Liga IANS Updated: April 23rd, 2023, 08:00 IST in Sports 0 Barcelona appreciating the supporters after win against Real Madrid (Image: brfootball/Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Linkedin Madrid: FC Barcelona play arguably their most important and difficult game between now and the end of the La Liga season when Atletico Madrid visit the Camp Nou Stadium Sunday afternoon. Barcelona go into the weekend with nine games to play and an 11-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table – although that lead will be reduced to eight points if Madrid beat Celta Vigo Saturday afternoon. However, Barca’s recent performances have given cause for worry, with Xavi Hernandez’s side unable to score in their last three matches – a 4-0 defeat at home to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, a 0-0 draw in La Liga at home to Girona and a 0-0 draw away to Getafe last weekend, a Xinhua report said.
Failing to score in three consecutive matches is something that hasn’t happened to Barca for almost 20 years, and happens just as they receive the most in-form side in La Liga. Atletico travel to Barcelona third in the table after a run of ten wins from 12 that has virtually ensured them of a place in next season’s Champions League and lifted them to with two points of Real Madrid. Antoine Griezmann has been in excellent form for Atletico since the World Cup, as he showed with his two goals against Almeria last weekend, while Rodrigo de Paul and Marcos Llorente look comfortable in midfield and Mario Hermoso finally looks settled as part of a back-three with wing backs.
There is no doubt Barca’s injury problems have not helped them, with Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong all injured since their defeat against Real Madrid at the end of March, and Andreas Christensen suffering a calf injury in the international break. Sergi Roberto tore a hamstring at Getafe last Sunday and will miss the rest of the season, but there is a chance Pedri and De Jong will be able to play some part on Sunday. That should allow Xavi to introduce some spark into midfield for a decisive game.
Barca’s 11-point lead looks unassailable and a win, or perhaps even a draw, would probably be enough, but defeat would set some alarm bells ringing and give Real Madrid some hope of a miracle. IANS Tags: Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid barcelona Camp Nou Stadium Champions League Frenkle De Jong La Liga Pedri Real Madrid Sergi Roberto Share Tweet Send Share Suggest A Correction Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox. Leave this field empty if you’re human: Related Posts KKR desperate to arrest slide against heavyweights CSK April 23, 2023 Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians by 13 runs April 22, 2023 Tendulkar cuts cake to celebrate 50th birthday at Wankhede during MI vs PBKS April 22, 2023 Punjab Kings score 214/8 vs MI April 22, 2023 I don’t know how it happened, but it has happened: KL Rahul after LSG’s defeat April 22, 2023 KL Rahul’s baffling batting approach leads to seven-run defeat for LSG against Titans April 22, 2023 Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
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From: orissapost
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