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La Liga Talking Points – Early Game of Season Awaits

By Kevin Kelly

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La Liga returns to game week three this weekend following a the damned international break. Kevin Kelly briefly talks about the key talking points ahead of the weekend’s action.

Friday Night Dud?

Friday night’s game sees Levante host Sevilla in a game which many have said won’t entice – well they may be quite wrong. Both sides have begun the season in a disappointing and rather turgid fashion, with the match posing the prime opportunity for one of them to get their season going.

Lucas Alcaraz’ men go into Friday night’s match on the back of a drab 0-0 away at Las Palmas, with little hopes of getting their first win this week.Levante, who ended the 2014/15 La Liga season in 14th place, won’t have expected much more to the start of the season; yet one point from three games will not be a proposition the likes of Juanfran or Roger Marti will look forward to.

Regardless of whether Les Granotes fail to accrue any points on Friday, they will find no solace from the fixture list: it’s a trip to the Camp Nou next week.  Meanwhile, Nabil Ghilas, David Navarro and Deyverson are all back in back after recent spells out with injury.

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Sevilla meanwhile have too started the La Liga campaign in a disappointing fashion. Les Rojiblancos hosted the 2014/15 champions Atletico Madrid in their last game, and were left humbled, on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Diego Simeone’s men. Their first match wasn’t particularly impressive either; a stodgy 0-0 away to Malaga.

Sevilla will be without Adil Rami for six weeks after the French defender suffered a tear in his left adductor muscle in training. However, Rami is now expected to be out of action until the end of October.

With Celta Vigo to follow following the match against Levante for Unai Emery’s men Sevilla are now in a prime position to get their campaign up and running following a turgid start.

The Main Attraction

The main game this weekend is undoubtedly Atletico Madrid – Barcelona. Atletico Madrid have began the season in an eye-catching fashion and their last win – a 3-0 victory away to Sevilla – has left punters considering Simeone’s men as genuine La Liga title contenders.

El Atleti were big spenders this summer with the likes of Jackson Martinez and Luciano Viettoarriving to bolster their forward artillery, but it has been the form of the Frenchman Antoine Griezmann that has made so many neutrals think about Simeone’s men in the same breadth as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Tiago is an injury doubt for Diego Simeone’s men, with Saul Niguez set to come into the XI if required, while Jackson Martinez is expected to replace Fernando Torres up top.

Barcelona may have swatted every opponent away with ease last season through their record breaking attack, but this campaign has required tougher – and indeed tighter – performances.

La Blaugrana have won both games 1-0 this season – coincidentally with two headed goals. Thetreble winners began the season without Neymar but the Brazilian has returned from injury and will play on the left-wing as per on Saturday night.

Claudio Bravo should be out of action for a few weeks, meaning that Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the undisputed number one for a while. Gerard Pique meanwhile is still missing due to a ban, soThomas Vermaelen is expected to continue at the heart of the defence.

Atletico are undefeated in 36 of their last 38 home matches in La Liga – a staggering statistic. The 2014/15 champions look back to their best and could conceivably beat Barcelona, who are yet to hit top form this season.

In this fixture last season, the Blaugrana came out with a 1-0 win, thanks of Lionel Messi – though the Argentine is yet to score in league action during the current campaign.

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Moyes’ Men Search for First Goal

David Moyes Real Sociedad – who are yet to score a goal never mind get a win, travel to Real Betis on Saturday evening in a deceptively interesting encounter. Pepe Mel will be hoping his Real Betis outfit will have dusted themselves off sufficiently following their last match – a 5-0 thumping by Real Madrid. Indeed, the Seville based side began the season in an impressive fashion, wherein they drew 1-1 at home to Villareal.

Star signing Rafael van der Vaart is set to make his Betis debut after recovering from injury, which could result in Molina dropping out of the starting eleven should the Dutchman get the nod.

Summer signing Westermann is expected to replace German Pezzella in the centre of the defence, with the latter picking up an ankle problem. It is uncertain whether Xavi Torres nor Javier Matilla will be fit to play.

Saturday is set to mark the remark of the prodigal son – with Aiser Illarramendi ready to make his debut since returning from an unsuccessful spell at Real Madrid.

Elsewhere no other changes are expected from David Moyes’ men, who are yet to score a goal in La Liga this season.

Raul Navas remains out, while defender Inigo Martinez is expected to be fit for the clash.  With Espanol at home to follow for La Real, Moyes is surely hopeful of picking up his first win of the season shortly.

Form may be temporary, but it certainly indicates a cagey affair for Saturday’s clash. In two games apiece neither side have won a game yet this season, with La Real yet to score a goal.

Betis will have been happy with an opening day draw at home to Villareal, but until they get their first win of the season, the pressure will remain as strong as ever on Pepe Mel’s men.

Real Sociedad, who have failed to win 19 of their last 21 away matches in La Liga, will likely settle for another draw here – as is Moyes’ forte.

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