• Tuesday, June 25, 2024
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BusinessDay

La Liga preview: Madrid face tricky Sevilla clash, Barca tackle Athletic Club

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After the international break, club football and exciting Matchday 10 beckons in La Liga. Leaders Real Madrid will visit Sevilla FC to take on their former captain Sergio Ramos. Atlético Madrid must be cautious when they travel to Vigo to face RC Celta Vigo while reigning champions Barcelona also resume their historic rivalry against Athletic Club.

Here, BusinessDay Sports previews some of the biggest La Liga fixtures for this weekend.

Sevilla vs Real Madrid

All eyes will be on the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where Sevilla will clash with Real Madrid.

Madrid will aim to post a fifth straight win in all competitions when they resume their La Liga campaign with a trip to Sevilla on Saturday evening.

Los Blancos are currently top of the table, picking up 24 points from their opening nine matches, while Sevilla sits in 14th position, collecting only eight points from as many games in 2023/24.

Sergio Ramos will be playing his first match against the club, where he has been captain since he departed from Los Blancos in 2021.

Sevilla will have a new face in the dug-out this weekend, with Diego Alonso being confirmed as the team’s new head coach on a contract until the end of the campaign.

Alonso will hope to start with what would be a famous victory against the current La Liga leaders.

Real Madrid’s new season signing, Jude Bellingham, has been the team’s outstanding performer, scoring 10 goals and registering three assists in 10 competitions. He will bid to add to his eight goals and two assists he has already managed in La Liga this season.

Read also La Liga announces 2023 edition of U-15 Youth football league in partnership MTN, NPFL

Celta vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid will aim to make six straight wins in all competitions when they resume their La Liga campaign against Celta Vigo on Saturday night.

Diego Simeone’s side are currently fourth in the La Liga table, five points behind Real Madrid’s leaders with a game in hand, while Celta sit 18th, having picked up just six points from their first nine games.

The Colchoneros will look to keep up their good but will try to apply caution after their disappointing 3-0 loss at Valencia in the first match following the September international break. This time out, Los Colchoneros will aim to add three more points to their title hopes.

Simeone’s side have won their last four in the league, including the Madrid derby against Real Madrid, while they have picked up four points from their opening two games in the Champions League group stage.

Barcelona vs Athletic Club

On Sunday night, Barcelona will host Athletic Club in one of the most historic fixtures in Spanish football, as both clubs have been present in every single La Liga season. It will be an extra special occasion for Los Leones coach Ernesto Valverde as he takes on his former club. With Barça currently suffering an injury crisis, the current boss of Los Blaugrana, Xavi, will have to conjure up some solutions if the Catalan outfit is to overcome the fifth-placed team in La Liga.