BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona and Real Madrid resume their fight for the Spanish league title as competition resumes after a seven-week World Cup hiatus.
When the club’s play was halted in early November, Barcelona and Madrid were already threatening to make it a two-team race with nine points separating second-place Madrid and third-place Real Sociedad.
Barcelona has a two-point lead and hosts rival Espanyol at the Camp Nou on Saturday, a day before defending champions Madrid visit Valladolid.
The Catalan club is under even more pressure to win its first league title since 2019 after failing in the Champions League group stage. despite reinforcing its staff this summer with funds it obtained by selling part of its television rights and other assets.
“We have to be self-critical. We were not up to the task in the Champions League,” coach Xavi Hernández recently said. “I think we have competed well in the Spanish league. I have high hopes that we can win this league. That would give the club some stability. It’s a priority.”
Xavi’s immediate concern is choosing a striker to lead his attack with Robert Lewandowski serving a three-match suspension. Lewandowski earned a one-game suspension for two yellow cards in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Osasuna in their last game in early November. The Spanish Football Federation added two more games to its sanction for Lewandowski’s “lack of respect” towards the referee when he pointed his nose at him twice after his expulsion.
Lewandowski and his league-leading 13 goals have helped put Barcelona at the top of the table. Xavi is likely to look to Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay or Ferran Torres to replace the Polish striker against Espanyol and the following league games against Atlético Madrid and Getafe.
Several Barcelona players took part in the World Cup, including Jules Koundé and Ousmane Dembélé, whose France lost in the final to Argentina, and former Barcelona great Lionel Messi.
Xavi said the long rest has allowed injured defenders Ronald Araújo and Sergi Roberto to recover and be ready to play on Saturday.
Barcelona will host an Espanyol team that has only won two wins this season and is in 16th place, just one point from the relegation zone.
Madrid is back in action with Carlo Ancelotti trying to regain his champion form after setbacks before the World Cup break. A loss to Rayo Vallecano and a draw with Girona in two of their last three games before the break cost them the league lead.
Karim Benzema should be ready to play after his hopes of adding a world title to his Ballon d’Or award they were ruined by a left thigh injury while training with France. Benzema has been hampered by injury this season and played in just seven Spanish league games.
“We have got Benzema back, who is very important,” Ancelotti said on Thursday. “He has returned a very motivated player and we are convinced that he will give us a lot.”
Valladolid is in 12th place after winning three of their last five games.
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