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Barcelona’s Ferran Torres, left, shoots the ball previous Intercity’s Martin Bellotti throughout a Spanish Copa del Rey spherical of 16 soccer match between Intercity and Barcelona on the Ricardo Perez stadium in Alicante, Spain, Wednesday Jan. 4, 2023. (AP Picture/Alberto Saiz)
AP
MADRID
A poor run after the World Cup break has left Barcelona coach Xavi involved forward of the match in opposition to Atlético Madrid within the Spanish league this weekend.
Barcelona visits Atlético on Sunday reeling from two disappointing performances, together with a house draw in opposition to rival Espanyol that price the workforce sole possession of the league lead.
It additionally struggled in opposition to third-division membership Intercity within the spherical of 32 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, when it relinquished the lead thrice earlier than finally advancing in further time.
“We will’t be completely happy,” Xavi stated. “We’ve lacked effectiveness each in assault and in protection. That worries me. Particularly in assault. It might occur in protection, however not in assault.”
So as to add to Xavi’s considerations, he gained’t be capable of rely on suspended main striker Robert Lewandowski in opposition to Atlético. The league high scorer, Lewandowski performed in opposition to Espanyol after Barcelona appealed his three-game suspension from earlier than the World Cup, however a courtroom on Wednesday upheld the suspension and the Poland striker will miss the subsequent three league video games.
“I nonetheless haven’t thought of who would be the ‘No. 9’ on Sunday,” Xavi stated.
The possible substitute for Lewandowski shall be Ferran Torres or Memphis Depay, who each began within the 4-3 win in opposition to minnow Intercity on Wednesday. Torres has performed typically off the bench and typically as a starter, whereas Depay has had just a few appearances this season.
Ansu Fati began in opposition to Espanyol and got here off the bench in opposition to Intercity to attain the winner in further time. He’s set to begin once more on Sunday at Metropolitano Stadium.
The 1-1 draw in opposition to Espanyol left Barcelona tied on factors with Actual Madrid on the high of the standings. The powerhouses are 9 factors forward of third-placed Actual Sociedad and 11 factors in entrance of fourth-placed Atlético, which lately ended a poor run of outcomes from earlier than the World Cup.
It defeated last-placed Elche 2-0 to finish a three-game winless streak within the league earlier than the break. It superior previous second-division Oviedo 2-0 within the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
“We’ve to cease dropping factors within the league,” stated Marcos Llorente, who scored one of many objectives in opposition to Oviedo. “We’d like a victory to begin shifting up. That Lewandowski gained’t play is dangerous luck for them. He is a superb participant.”
Atlético is unbeaten at residence in opposition to Barcelona since 2019. The Catalan membership gained 4-2 at residence the final time they met within the league final yr.
OTHER MATCHES
Madrid, trailing Barcelona on purpose distinction, on Saturday visits a Villarreal squad that has gained three in a row after the World Cup and sits in seventh place.
Sociedad on Sunday will attempt to prolong its successful streak to 6 video games in all competitions when it visits Almería.
Athletic Bilbao performs at Osasuna on Monday, whereas Actual Betis on Sunday visits Rayo Vallecano, which is coming off elimination to second-division workforce Sporting Gijón within the Copa del Rey.
Sevilla, which bought off to a disappointing begin to its season, will attempt to depart the relegation zone when it hosts Getafe on Sunday.
Elche, the one workforce but to win after 15 rounds, hosts relegation-threatened Celta Vigo on Friday.
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