Big guns back for Real Madrid, test of character for Barcelona

Analysis: Four things to look out for in Spain’s Matchday 12

Madrid, Spain | Xinhua | Matchday 12 of La Liga comes with just three rounds to go before the competition is halted for the World Cup finals. It also comes after Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla were knocked out of the group stage of the Champions League. Here are some things to look out for this weekend in Spain.

🔴 Big guns back for Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s unbeaten record came to an end with a 3-2 defeat away to RB Leipzig on Tuesday night. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti rested Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Fede Valverde, while Dani Carvajal came on as a second half substitute.

All of these players should be back in the side on Sunday when third from bottom Girona visit the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Girona have played some attractive football since winning promotion last season and have netted 15 goals in 11 games, although their defense is more vulnerable, having conceded 19.

A lot of attention will be on Girona’s Brazilian forward Reinier Jesus, who is on loan from Real Madrid.

🔴 Test of character for Barcelona

Barcelona went out of the Champions League in disappointing fashion on Wednesday night, as Inter Milan beat Viktoria Plzen even before their game hosting Bayern Munich kicked off.

Barca then produced a poor display against Bayern, losing 3-0 to raise questions about the personality of some players, just two weeks after another tepid defeat against Real Madrid.

Home wins over Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao appeared to show an improvement in Barca’s form, but Wednesday raises questions about their ability to dig deep in difficult games and an aggressive Valencia are likely to show just how real Barca’s recovery is.

🔴 Real Sociedad and Real Betis test credentials in San Sebastian

Sunday’s game between Real Sociedad and Real Betis promises to be a test of both sides’ credentials to qualify for a place in Europe next season.

Both sides go into the match after defeats last weekend (against Valladolid and Atletico Madrid) and both played Europa League matches on Thursday night, with long trips to Cyprus and Bulgaria.

The Basque side also saw David Silva added to their long injury list this week, joining Mohamed-Ali Cho, Mikel Oyarzabal and Umar Sadiq on the sidelines, while Betis are without Luis Felipe and Juanmi.

It promises to be an entertaining game, where a win would boost European ambitions.

🔴 Valverde to look for a reaction against Setien’s Villarreal

Athletic Club Bilbao produced their worst performance of the season last week, losing to Barcelona 4-0 after coach Ernesto Valverde tweaked his side in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Barca’s passing game.

He needs to see an immediate reaction and both Oihan Sancet and Iker Muniain are likely to be back as Bilbao look to get back on the front foot against Villarreal.

Villarreal were rocked at the start of the week by the shock departure of coach Unai Emery to Aston Villa, although they reacted quickly to being in Quique Setien as a replacement.

Setien favors a more attacking style of play than Emery, but is handicapped by a long injury list.

The game also has extra bite because Setien was the man who replaced Valverde at Barca when Valverde was sacked with the club top of the league in January 2020. ■