KAMPALA: An injury crisis that was threatening derail Barcelona’s four pronged assault on silverware has abated slightly in time for a critical run of fixtures against Athletic Bilbao, Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid. Xavi Hernandez’s Blaugrana are still without reigning Pichichi winner Robert Lewandowski, defensive lynchpin Jules Kounde and midfield fulcrum Frenkie de Jong for Sunday’s crunch Liga Santander collision with Athletic Bilbao but he can count on the services of La Masia Academy prodigy Lamine Yamal and Pedri.
The reigning Spanish Primera Liga champions were uncharacteristically wayward in drawing 2-2 at Granada just before the international break, with the mercurial goal scoring prowess of Lewandowski especially missed. Poland’s record scorer was absent from national team duty as his side fell out of contention for Euro 2024 in Germany following a 1-1 draw with lowly Moldova. The 35-year-old is also set to miss Wednesday’s Champions League group game against Shakhtar Donetsk but has been earmarked to be in action in next weekend’s El Clasico clash with Real Madrid.
League leaders Real Madrid will be without long term absentee Thibaut Courtois as well as defensive pair Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez for Saturday’s trip to Sevilla but Carlo Ancelotti welcomes back David Alaba. Austria’s national team skipper should join Antonio Rudiger in central defense after Ancelotti was forced to deploy Aurelien Tchouameni alongside the German in Real’s 4-0 win over Osasuna just before the international break.
Newly appointed Sevilla boss Diego Alonso must rotate his squad in readiness for Wednesday’s Champions League home rubber with Arsenal but he is expected to detail a player to monitor Real Madrid’s irrepressible attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham. Currently Liga Santander top scorer with eight goals and four assists, the Englishman continued to hog the headlines with yet another man of the match display as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions beat Italy 3-1 to book a slot at Germany 2024.
Liga Santander action commences on Friday night with Osasuna hosting Granada before Imanol Iguacil’s Real Sociedad warm up for their midweek Champions League trip to Benfica with a home tie against Mallorca. Forgotten man Rafa Benitez, a two time titlist with Valencia in 2002 and 2004, aims to throw a spanner into Atletico Madrid’s title works when his Celta Vigo side host Diego Simeone’s Wanda Metropolitano based outfit in Saturday’s late kick off.
FRIDAY
Osasuna v Granada
SATURDAY
Real Sociedad v Mallorca,
Getafe v Real Betis,
Sevilla v Real Madrid,
Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid
SUNDAY
Las Palmas v Rayo Vallecano,
Girona v Almeria,
Villarreal v Deportivo Alaves,
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao
MONDAY
Valencia v Cadiz