The title chase resumes in Spain today, with Barcelona and Real Madrid ready to slug it out for the LaLiga crown.
Football has been on hold for more than three months, but the Seville Derby on Thursday meant that the Spanish top flight is back in business.
Barca travel to Mallorca in Saturday’s late kick-off, only two points ahead of Real madrid.
The Catalans’ advantage was cut by Zinedine Zidane’s side before the lockdown, when they lost 2-0 in the El Clasico.
Both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are back in action Sunday, against Athletic Bilbao and Eibar respectively. Atleti are currently in sixth place, 13 points off the leaders, having won only 11 games so far.
Barcelona manager, Quique Setien, has said both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will be available this weekend, for their trip to Mallorca.
However, Setien admits he will have to manage their fitness with 11 games coming up in the next six weeks.
Barca resumes their title defence on Saturday, following an enforced three-month break due to COVID-19.
Suarez thought he’d miss the rest of the season, following a keyhole surgery on his knee in August, but he has now recovered in time for the run-in.
“After five months out he is training well but he’s going to need some time to get back to the best Luis Suarez,” Setien told a press conference on Friday.
Anaedoonline.com reported that Messi is back in full training after missing three sessions last week with a thigh injury.
“He has been training well. He’s in perfect shape, Messi knows how to manage himself. If he senses a risk, he will be the first to say he needs a rest.” Setien said about Messi.
Barcelona has reportedly identified two players, Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez as a long term replacement for captain, Lionel Messi.
Messi, who will turn 33 later this month, has scored 21 goals in all competition for Barcelona so far this season.