La Liga: Squad Rotations Expected for Top Teams as Champions League Looms
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Synopsis
As the Champions League returns, La Liga leaders FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid are expected to rotate their squads for upcoming matches. Key players will be integrated into lineups as each team prepares for intense weekend games.
Key Takeaways
- FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are making squad changes.
- Upcoming matches coincide with crucial Champions League ties.
- Atletico Madrid faces a challenging matchup against Getafe.
- Jude Bellingham returns for Real Madrid.
- Valencia has a critical opportunity to escape the relegation zone.
Madrid, March 6 (NationPress) The current La Liga front-runners, FC Barcelona, along with Atletico Madrid in second place and Real Madrid, are set to implement squad adjustments for their upcoming matches in the top-tier Spanish football league. This comes as they gear up for the crucial return leg of their Champions League fixtures.
On Saturday evening, Barcelona will host Osasuna after managing to maintain their Champions League lead with 10 players for 70 minutes away at Benfica on Wednesday. Coach Hansi Flick is expected to include Ferran Torres, Marc Casado, and Fermin Lopez in his starting lineup, while Pau Cubarsi will definitely start since he is suspended for the next leg in Europe, as reported by Xinhua.
Real Madrid holds a slim 2-1 advantage as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium next Wednesday, promising to be one of the season's most thrilling encounters.
Atletico will travel a short distance to face Getafe on Sunday at lunchtime, with Diego Simeone likely to integrate Robin le Normand, Alexander Sorloth, and Angel Correa into the starting eleven against a team that has suffered defeats in its last two league outings. The two teams recently faced off in February during the Copa del Rey, where Atletico secured a dominant 5-0 victory, but the upcoming match is expected to be significantly more challenging.
Real Madrid will host Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with Carlo Ancelotti welcoming back Jude Bellingham after suspension. The Italian manager will also make several changes to his starting lineup, with Fran Garcia, David Alaba, Arda Guler, and Lucas Vazquez expected to play against a rival likely to apply high pressure.
Ancelotti's primary concern is whether to include Kylian Mbappe, who underperformed midweek. Alongside Barcelona's match against Osasuna, three additional matches are scheduled for Saturday, with Celta Vigo aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to five games while hosting Leganes.
Alaves coach Eduardo Coudet retained his position following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mallorca last week, but a home loss to Villarreal would likely jeopardize his job. Villarreal remains fifth after their game against Espanyol was postponed due to severe weather.
Valencia has an opportunity to escape the relegation zone with a crucial home game against Valladolid, who could only muster a draw against 10-man Las Palmas last week, ending a four-match losing streak. However, Diego Martinez's team will visit an in-form Betis and could find themselves in the relegation zone by the time the match kicks off on Sunday, putting Martinez's job at risk if they lose again.
Fourth-placed Athletic Club Bilbao's impressive 16-match unbeaten streak was halted by Atletico Madrid last weekend, and they must bounce back from their Europa League trip to Rome ahead of their home game against Mallorca this Sunday.
Real Sociedad will face Sevilla and are also in Europa League action on Thursday night. Although Real Sociedad has lost Aritz Elustondo to suspension, they have welcomed back Sheraldo Becker, Takefusa Kubo, and Nayef Aguerd, all of whom were suspended during last weekend's loss in Barcelona.
The matchday will conclude with a Catalan derby on Monday as Espanyol hosts Girona.
