La Liga News: Almeria versus Barcelona
There’s little over a week before two Spanish giants meet, and the Catalan giants will be anxious not to fall any further behind their fierce rivals in La Liga. Facing Almeria would their last match of La Liga of Barcelona before the highly
anticipated El Classico. .
So far in this season, Almeria’s form has not been up to the expected standard in La Liga and they have picked up a measly 9 points to date. In addition to that their poor form has yet to make them achieve and away victory nonetheless they have been defeated
in one of their 5 home matches.
Last weekend was something of a low for the Juan Manuel Lillo’s men, which went down 1-0 away to Sevilla. It was not the result that was embarrassing, more the way the game panned out. By the time the full-time whistle blew, the southerners had been playing
against nine men for over 20 minutes.
But in some ways this fixture comes at a perfect time – if there is such a thing when facing Barcelona. They’ve had almost a week to prepare for this clash virtually uninterrupted, while Pep Gaurdiola’s players have been busy representing their teams during
midweek’s international friendly matches. Furthermore, Barcelona played two massive matches in last ten days, so if Almeria wants to bag any point, it would be the best time to do so.
Imaginably it is grasping at straws, but against such daunting opposition any relief should be enthusiastically taken.
While one the other side, for Pep Gaurdiola’s team, they are in the very meat of their campaign. Very crucial and yet important matches are being thrown at them both domestically and continentally, though Barca training regime is geared up to having its players
at the peak of their physical powers at exactly this time of year. When winter comes around, they may be on the wane, but the demands on them won’t be so great and they will simply be breathing in ahead of another titanic effort in the spring.
At present, each fixture that Barcelona play has a great deal of meaning. Last weekend they were handed their first true test of stature in this season, but they passed this hurdle emphatically, by thrashing the in-form Villarreal by three goals to one.
Barcelona has managed to win all away matches so far in this season of La Liga and would continue their unbeaten form against Almeria too. A win over Almeria, would surely boost their moral before facing Real Madrid next weekend for the grand El Classico
Tags: