The 2022/23 La Liga campaign is hurtling towards its climax, with 15 rounds to go and the big games are coming thick and fast.
Barcelona are in pole position to take the title back to Catalonia, with a very useful seven point lead at the top of the table, but a Barca wobble at the end of February has awoken interest in Madrid, where Los Blancos are getting ready to pounce.
After a going on a long unbeaten run to streak ahead in the league, as well as winning the Super Cup and advancing nicely in the Copa del Rey, the Blaugrana has lost two games on the bounce. And with a Copa clash against Real Madrid looming and a lengthy injury list, Xavi’s Barca are desperate to avoid a mini slump which could hand the initiative to their El Clasico rivals. The SBOTOP odds have Barca as slight favourites for the cup tie and they would be delighted with a draw in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Injured midfield ace Pedri has been a big miss for Barcelona and Gavi was suspended when Xavi’s side made an unsuccessful Europa League trip to Manchester last week so the boss is looking at his midfield unit to try to strengthen the creativity. Robert Lewandowski has proved once again that he is the best in the business in front of goal, but his prowess has masked the absence of big scoring chances in recent weeks.
And Lewi’s injury, picked up in the shock defeat away to Almeria on Sunday, presents another headache for Xavi, but the club hopes his lay-off will be short.
Reports in the La Liga 2023 news media suggest Barcelona are planning another swoop for Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva in the summer. The Catalans hoped to sign the 28 year old Portugal star last summer, but their failure to move Frenkie de Jong on meant Barca couldn’t act on their impulse. The task for the current crop of players is to protect their lead in March and push on for a first title since 2019.
The defeat to Almeria has seemingly delayed the announcement of a new one year contract for utility player Sergi Roberto. The 31 year old has been at the Camp Nou since 2010 and has been a key part of the squad which dominated the Spanish league for a decade. It’s been reported that the player has agreed to the contract renewal with an option for a further year, but the Blaugrana have decided to shelve the announcement as they didn’t want to make it on a bad news day, especially with the Copa clash against Los Blancos only two days away.
Xavi is a big fan of his former team-mate and he will want to announce the renewal to fans after a win. And that is the club’s priority, against their biggest rivals on Thursday.
The Madrid Derby ended in a 1-1 draw last Saturday but when Barcelona failed to take advantage Los Blancos’ resolve was strengthened and they are fully focussed on the Copa tie. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti, striker Karim Benzema and keeper Thibaut Courtois were all shortlisted for the Best FIFA Awards on Monday night; but they stayed away from the gala event to focus on business. In any case, they all missed out to the Argentine trio of Lionel Scaloni, Lionel Messi and Emi Martinez.
The top four race intensifies
Most neutrals expected Real Sociedad to beat struggling Valencia on Saturday but an own goal courtesy of Igor Zubeldia handed all three points to the struggling Los Ches. Sociedad had almost 70 per cent possession but lacked the cutting edge to break through their hosts’ rearguard, and that opened the door for fifth place Real Betis to climb to within three points of La Real in third.
Atletico Madrid are sandwiched in between those two and, with big gaps up to second placed Real Madrid and down to sixth placed Rayo Vallecano, a fascinating three way battle for two Champions League places is bubbling up. Not so long ago Sociedad were hoping to gatecrash the title race but a sequence of two wins from six league games has allowed Betis to claw their way back into the race with three consecutive victories.
The La Liga 2023 betting odds back Atleti and Sociedad to join the El Clasico pair in the 2023/24 Champions League, but Real Betis will have plenty to say about that.
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