Spain's big sides head into Matchday 11 off good European results

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, November 27, 2020
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FC Inter's Nicolo Barella (R) vies with Real Madrid's Casemiro during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between FC Inter and Real Madrid in Milan, Italy, Nov. 25, 2020. (Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

Matchday 11 of La Liga once again sees Spain's big sides in action on Saturday as they look to build on positive results in the Champions League during the week.

The weekend kicks off on Friday night as Valladolid look for their third consecutive win at home to Levante, who remain in the bottom three with just one win all season.

Saturday's first game sees Elche take on a Cadiz side that has won four out of five away games since returning to the top-flight.

There will be plenty of intrigue in the Mestalla Stadium as Geoffrey Kondogbia returns to face the club he left to join Atletico Madrid just over a month ago. Valencia have produced some spirited performances this season despite seeing their squad decimated by the departure of key players over the summer, but they will miss Jose Luis Gaya after he tore a hamstring in last weekend's fightback away to Alaves.

There is also a risk coach Javi Gracia could lose further players after it was confirmed one unnamed player tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, meaning further tests will be carried out on the squad on Thursday.

Sevilla are without left backs Marcos Acuna and Sergio Escudero as Julen Lopetegui's side travels to face Huesca, who are without a win all season, but have drawn seven of their 10 matches so far.

Sevilla's 2-1 win away to Krasnodar on Tuesday assured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, so Lopetegui will be able to field his strongest available side and rest key players in the remaining two European games.

Real Madrid returned to form with a surprisingly easy 2-0 win away to Inter Milan on Wednesday night and could have Sergio Ramos available for the visit of Deportivo Alaves, who will be without club captain Manu Garcia after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

Alaves can be expected to field three central defenders and pack their defense, so it could be a question of patience for a Real Madrid attack that has struggled to score goals in some matches this season.

Barcelona received a much-needed morale boost as a young side turned on the style to beat Dynamo Kiev 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday in a game which saw Leo Messi and Frenkie de Jong both rested. The duo should return for the home game against a rugged Osasuna. Without the injured Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique, coach Ronald Koeman will have to decide whether or not to continue with the young players who have given some hope for the future in a so far complicated season.

Athletic Club Bilbao gave a much improved display when they beat Betis 4-0 on Monday, and coach Gaizka Garitano will look for the positive attitude to continue in the difficult trip to Getafe.

New Celta coach Eduardo Coudet goes into his first home game in charge with his side bottom of the table and needing to improve in defense when they face Granada, while there promises to be an entertaining game in San Sebastian as league leaders Real Sociedad entertain third place Villarreal.

Real Sociedad are looking for a club record seventh consecutive home win, but will be hampered by the absence of the injured David Silva.

The round of games ends on Monday when Betis, who have the worst defense in La Liga, play Eibar, who have the worst attack and are without suspended striker Kike Garcia for the visit to Seville. 

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