KAMPALA: Ballon d’Or favourite Karim Benzema is salivating at the prospect of a goals avalanche when Real Madrid host rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon in European football’s most high profile fixture. Bereft of the services of injured first choice centre backs Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen, Blaugrana’s defending was clueless as Liga Santander’s leaders were held to a 3-3 draw by Inter Milan to leave their chances of progressing from the Champions League group of death in jeopardy.
With the winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or set to be announced later on Sunday, Benzema will fancy his chances of clinching the game’s biggest individual prize when he comes up against veteran Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia, both of whom weren’t at the races on Wednesday night when Xavi Hernandez’s Catalan giants surrendered to an inevitable demotion to Europa League football for the second successive season.
Bookmakers rate Carlo Ancelotti’s reigning La Liga and European champions as slight favourites to eclipse Barcelona on account of an extended injury list that also includes Hector Bellerin, Frank Kessie, Memphis Deepay and Frenkie de Jong. Los Blancos defender Antonio Rudiger should be available for selection despite a head injury in Real’s one all draw at Shakhtar Donetsk but keeper Thibaut Courtois is sidelined with a back problem.
An equally fascinating duel takes place on Saturday night when third placed Athletic Bilbao host Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid at San Mames. The Ernesto Valverde coached Basque outfit can count on the prolific form of Inaki and Nico Williams as they aim to torpedo an Atleti side that failed to get out of second gear in drawing 0-0 with Club Brugge in a Champions League Group B tie on Wednesday night.
Liga Santander action begins on Friday night with Rayo Vallecano hosting Getafe, before new Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli seeks the first win of his Ramon Picquan Sanchez Stadium career at Real Mallorca. Lowly Cadiz travel to Girona in Saturday’s early kick off whereas winless basement club Elche must negotiate a daunting trip to Valencia.
FRIDAY
Rayo Vallecano v Getafe
SATURDAY
Girona v Cadiz, Valencia v Elche,
Real Mallorca v Sevilla,
Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid
SUNDAY
Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad,
Real Madrid v Barcelona,
Espanyol v Real Valladolid,
Real Betis v Almeria
MONDAY
Villarreal v Osasuna