Spanish football, the La Liga is back this weekend starting at the Santiago Bernabéu where the Champions will be hosting Leganes at midday.
There’s still no Ronaldo due to suspension and Raphael Varane is a big doubt due to injury but Madrid put 3 past Leganes in both legs last season and nothing short of that would be expected from Los Merengues. There was the setback against Valencia but this game is a great chance to bounce back to winning ways.
Cules will be hoping to see the Club’s new record signing on the pitch as they play the first Catalan Derby of the season.
With Neymar off to France and Suarez’s injury in the Super Cup, the bulk of the burden has been on Messi and the Argentine will surely be glad to have Suarez back and join in with French wonder-kid, Ousmane Dembele, who has been training with the manager all week as he was left out of France’s squad by Didier Deschamps.
Javi Lopez is a big doubt for this game but Esteban Granero and Pablo Piatti are familiar foes for La Blagruana and should feature for Espanyol. Luis Suarez had 2 goals and an assist in this fixture last year so expect goals in Catalunya.
There should be new faces in white shirts at the Mestalla for the visit of Atletico Madrid. Valencia would look at their transfer business and expect a push for European places.
They got a respectable draw against the Champions before the international break and would be hoping to produce a similar performance against the other Madrid heavyweight. There’s no Gabriel Paulista yet but Jeison Murillo and Andreas Pereira are in contention to start.
Antoine Griezman is suspended for this due to a red card but Diego Simeone would be hoping that Luciano Vietto and Angel Correa are able to provide the goals to celebrate his new contract extension at the club. This surely is the biggest match in Spain this weekend.
Sevilla will hope to get their first maximum points at home in the league when they host Eibar at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Ever Banega is out due to suspension but there are all the summer signings available for manager Eduardo Berrizo.
Bebe is the star man for Eibar as Pedro Leon misses out on what should be a close affair. Deportivo host present table toppers, Real Sociedad at the Riazor on Sunday while Athletic Bilbao takes on new boys, Girona at the San Mames.
There will definitely be points for one or both of Celta Vigo and Alaves at Balaidos. Both teams haven’t registered a point this season in the Liga but Unzue’s men will feel their knack for scoring goals can get maximum points against an Alaves side who have failed to score in 180 minutes.
Real Betis travel to Villarreal who have also failed to find the net in the first two games, Cedric Bakambu is back for the hosts though and they will be expecting to get their first goals here at home.
Malaga host Las Palmas who have brought in Aquilani, Vitolo, Loic Remy and Samper. It’s hard to see how the loss of Kevin-prince Boateng would be felt.
