"A demanding run awaits After the demanding visit of Alaves this Saturday, Barcelona will kick off a string of high-difficulty La Liga fixtures as they take on Atletico Madrid, currently fourth, Real Betis, fifth, Osasuna, and Villarreal, third. Atletico are always an uncomfortable and intense opponent, one that forces maximum effort in every match. Barcelona aim to show that what happened in Europe was an isolated stumble and not the sign of a structural problem in their game or their confidence."
"In the final stretch of the year, after hosting Osasuna, Barcelona will face Villarreal away. The Yellow Submarine are struggling in Europe, but in La Liga, Marcelino's team shows a mix of talent, speed and a very clear structure. It will be another test that will require Barcelona to show personality away from home and a level of control that was missing in Europe at key moments."
Barcelona must respond immediately in La Liga after a painful Champions League defeat to Chelsea. The team sits one point behind Real Madrid and faces a demanding sequence of matches including Alaves, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Osasuna and Villarreal. Atletico require maximum effort while Betis arrive on a five-match unbeaten run. Controlling possession, managing tempo and minimising defensive lapses that punished them against Chelsea will be essential. The trip to Villarreal will demand personality and control away from home. A home Champions League fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt on 9 December leaves no margin for error for a Barcelona side that are 18th in the table.
Read at Barca Universal
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