Barça team has accumulated four games without winning -two defeats and two draws-, and in the La Liga table it is even with Espanyol.
Exceeded the last window of international matches of 2021, returns La Liga Santander with the long-awaited return of Xavi Hernandez, now as a new technician of the FC Barcelona, to refloat a aimless ship that travels far from the privileged positions that the Real society with Real Madrid and Sevilla as squires.
Until a few days ago, the technician of the Al Sadd Qatari, a banner as a footballer for the Barça team and the Spanish national team, returns to Spanish football with hope in the club headed by Joan Laporta that he is capable of rebuild the team, both in the aspect of the game and in the results.
He arrives almost in the condition of a true savior. And he breaks out precisely with a derby against him Spanish to open your mouth, with the obligation from the first minute to respond to the expectations and all the spotlights centered on his person.
In qualifying terms, Barcelona faces this new stage eleven points behind the leader, ten points from Real Madrid and Sevilla and six from Atlético de Madrid, defending champion. He has not won four games -two defeats and two draws-, and in the table it is even with Espanyol, which is making a good start to the season with relevant triumphs, such as the one obtained in October against the Madrid team itself.
The ‘perico’ team has not won at the Camp Nou since February 2009, when a double by Iván de la Peña allowed him to score for the last time in the fiefdom of the eternal rival, but this time he appears ready to break this streak under cover of the good feelings, its competitiveness and the good time of striker Raúl de Tomás, reinforced by his debut with the Spanish team.
It will be, above all, the first opportunity to see what wickers he uses and what approach Xavi is betting on, to which this break has allowed him at least to recover for the cause to players experiencing physical problems.
The Real Sociedad will once again defend the leadership that has been earned with solvency and even authority, this time before a Valencia that he does not quite find the necessary consistency to get into the European positions. What’s more, he will not be able to count on Hugo Guillamón as a sanction and due to physical problems with Gabriel Paulista, both key for José Bordalás.
Attentive to a failure of the set of Imanol Alguacil will be again on Real Madrid and Sevilla, second and third to one point, who are chasing their third consecutive victory. The Italian’s team Carlo Ancelotti will visit Granada and Julen Lopetegui will receive Alavés, who are struggling to get away from the danger zone.
Twelve victories has Real Madrid against Granada, against which they have not lost since February 2013, but they know that the return of the national team stops are complicated, and more against rivals who are already playing their lives like that of Robert Moreno, who saw his climb slowed down at the RCDE Stadium.
The reborn Alavés by Javi Calleja -Ten points out of the last twelve possible- throws an ordeal at Sevilla, ready this year to fight face to face with the big favorites and to take advantage of its large squad, now depleted in attack by the injury of a long distance from the Moroccan Youssef En-Nesyri, without forgetting the captain’s Jesus Navas.
The Atlético de Madrid, who lost ground with his tie in Balaídos, has a difficult game in the Wanda Metropolitano against Osasuna despite the fact that the Navarrese team has lost steam in the last four games, in which they have chained two draws and two defeats. Forbidden to fail for the Argentine Diego Pablo Simeone, which will recover Marcos Llorente placeholder image to french Thomas Lemar.
Two defeats have weighed down Betis’s march from Chilean Manuel Pellegrini and now they force him to compose himself. At the beginning you will visit the Elche, whose situation in the relegation zone makes it even more dangerous. The Argentine navy of the Elche attack is presented as a clear threat to the Heliopolitan group, which loses the Argentine ‘anchor’ Guido Rodriguez by cards.
Just one point behind Betis closes the European zone the surprising Lightning, who returns to play in his favorite setting, the Vallecas stadium. He will receive with the aim of reencountering the triumph at Mallorca, who have drawn their last four games.
That area of privilege is the one Athletic wants to reach after three games without winning. For it needs the victory at home to Levante, the only team that does not know the victory and that is penultimate with the same points as Getafe, red lantern, also in need of points against a direct rival such as Cádiz, sixteenth very close to danger and who has the doubt of the Panamanian ‘Choco’ Lozano.
Celta and Villarreal They will complete the day in an attractive duel, between two teams with wickers to be in the upper part of the table but who have not found the way so far.
However, the reaction of the Eduardo ‘Chacho’ Coudet against Barcelona, by equaling a 0-3, and the triumph of those of Unai emery against Getafe, it is a good starting point. The worst thing for the locals is the Peruvian Renato Tapia and Hugo Mallo leave due to injury, and the best for visitors the possible return of Gerard Moreno.
Program of the 14th day:
Raise-Athletic
Celta-Villarreal
Seville-Alaves
Atlético de Madrid-Osasuna
Barcelona-Espanyol
Getafe-Cádiz
Granada-Real Madrid
Elche-Betis
Real Sociedad-Valencia
Rayo Vallecano-Mallorca. (D)
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