bale messi for crucial week
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Vital day in their season

Bale, Messi for crucial week

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Bale, Messi for crucial week

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L)
Madrid - Arab Today

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) Madrid - Arab Today Barcelona and Real Madrid will be boosted by the return of Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale this weekend as both sides prepare for a vital week in their season. The two will clash in the first El Clasico of the season at the Camp Nou next weekend and must also negotiate huge Champions League ties in midweek as Real host Juventus and Barca travel to face AC Milan. A return to league action comes first though, with Madrid welcoming Malaga to the Santiago Bernabeu, whilst Barcelona are away to Osasuna. The Catalans are sitting pretty atop La Liga, alongside Atletico Madrid, five points clear of Real having won all eight of their league games so far. Indeed both Barca and Atletico have the chance to match Real's league record nine wins to start the campaign from the 1968/69 season on Saturday. And midfielder Sergio Busquets doesn't want his teammates to lose concentration against a struggling Osasuna side with big games just around the corner. "It won?t be an easy game for us in Pamplona, and we can?t be thinking about Real Madrid yet. One lapse in concentration could allow them to gain ground on us in the table. We cannot afford to get distracted," he said. "To break the league record we have to win in Pamplona and beat Real Madrid. If we can do it, we will open up a decent gap in the standings. "Records are fine but they don?t guarantee that you?ll end the season with a trophy. We have a few points advantage over Madrid but we have to keep an eye on Atletico.? Messi's return after missing the victories over Celtic and Valladolid is not the only good news on the injury front for Gerardo Martino's men as centre-backs Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol could both feature on Saturday. Puyol hasn't played since undergoing knee surgery in March and Busquets underlined his importance as a leader both on and off the field. ?He?s an important figure in the dressing room. "We?re all very happy for him. It?s clear to see that he is close to being back to full fitness and he?ll soon be fully integrated back into the team.? Real have the chance to temporarily cut the gap at the top to two points as they play first on Saturday afternoon against an improving Malaga side. Carlo Ancelotti's men have been far from impressive despite winning six of their eight league games to date, thanks in large part to last minute winners away to Elche and Levante. "Up to now we?ve had some poor games and our problems have been made worse by the fact that Barcelona and Atletico keep winning," Ancelotti told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera. "We need to play better, the criticisms are fair. The fans are demanding and they are right to be. "As a coach I can say that in the games coming up, Malaga and Juventus at home and Barcelona in the Camp Nou, we?ll do better. At the same time we couldn?t play worse than we did against Levante and Elche." Although not expected to start, Bale should feature at some stage as he continues to recover from a thigh injury which kept him out of the games against FC Copenhagen and Levante. And in an action packed Saturday, Atletico also have the chance to extend their 100 percent start to the campaign when they travel to Espanyol. David Villa is available despite missing Spain's recent World Cup qualifiers due to an arthritic ankle problem and he will be partnered by the prolific Diego Costa who will be looking to maintain his lead over Messi as La Liga's top goalscorer. Saturday Real Madrid v Malaga (1400GMT), Valencia v Real Sociedad (1600GMT), Osasuna v Barcelona (1800GMT), Espanyol v Atletico Madrid (2000GMT) Sunday Granada v Getafe (1000GMT), Almeria v Rayo Vallecano (1500GMT), Real Betis v Elche (1700GMT), Valladolid v Sevilla (1900GMT) Monday Celta Vigo v Levante (1800GMT), Athletic Bilbao v Villarreal (2000GMT) Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

bale messi for crucial week bale messi for crucial week

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

bale messi for crucial week bale messi for crucial week

 



GMT 06:49 2012 Saturday ,01 September

Lamitta Frangieh on her \'Facebook Romance\'

GMT 08:26 2017 Wednesday ,08 February

Qatar spending $500m a week on World Cup projects

GMT 17:00 2017 Tuesday ,27 June

Saudi Arabia rebuts fake news on Turkey, Israel

GMT 10:31 2016 Monday ,12 December

Second Sydney airport cleared for take off

GMT 05:27 2017 Sunday ,16 April

GIB Capital wins 4 EMEA Finance Awards

GMT 13:58 2016 Friday ,30 December

Australia beat Pakistan to win Test series

GMT 10:07 2017 Monday ,17 April

Mark Hamill would like to play George Lucas

GMT 12:10 2016 Tuesday ,13 December

Over 30 dead as Kenya tanker crashes, explodes

GMT 02:13 2017 Monday ,25 September

December22nd-January20th

GMT 15:39 2017 Tuesday ,03 October

Bangladesh rescues 20 Rohingya held by racket gang

GMT 02:51 2017 Friday ,10 November

Under siege, Syria doctors forced to improvise care
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday