So usually over time Barcelona and Real Madrid have fought it out between themselves for the Liga title, cruising to 95-plus factors whereas everybody else battles to be the very best of the remaining. However, with 10 video games to go this season, Atletico Madrid sit prime of the desk in what appears like a yr when 85 factors is likely to be sufficient to safe the silverware. It is about to be the closest-run title race for a while, with simply six factors separating first from third, and all three sides harbouring aspirations of glory. Atletico journey to fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday in what’s, on paper, one in every of their hardest remaining video games.
“Everyone knows that leagues are won in this part of the season,” Atletico captain Koke mentioned.
“We can’t think about if we’re favourites or not, but people will maybe say it for the points situation. Barca and Madrid are two of the best sides in the world and they’ll fight until the end for it like we will. If we don’t win La Liga it would hurt us all. We’ve put so much into this season, we had COVID absentees, injuries, and maybe that’s hurting us a bit now.”
Forward Joao Felix and winger Yannick Carrasco will face late health assessments after selecting up knocks on worldwide obligation with Portugal and Belgium respectively.
Barca, who sit 4 factors behind Atleti in second, could have the prospect to capitalise on any slip-up on Monday after they host Real Valladolid.
Ronald Koeman’s aspect are the shape crew in Spain, having not misplaced in La Liga since December and successful 15 of their 18 video games since.
Third-placed Real, six factors off the tempo, host Eibar, who sit in the relegation zone, on Saturday forward of subsequent week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg towards Liverpool.
