BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their loss to Liverpool when they cross the Spanish capital on Sunday to take on Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
Madrid were riding high after beating Barcelona in the Clasico until Liverpool manhandled Xabi Alonso’s side in the Champions League on Tuesday. Liverpool only won 1-0. All thanks to goalkeeping in Thibaut Courtois.
Barcelona also visit Celta Vigo on Sunday and will be looking to improve their defense, as the team needed a great performance from Lamine Yamal to recover. 3-3 draw at Club Brugge Mid week.
“We are Barça and we have an obligation to always win,” Yamal said. “But now we have to think about the next league match.”
key match
Madrid lead Barcelona by five points at the top of LaLiga and will face Rayo in 10th place.
Alonso said his team needed to respond after Liverpool disrupted their attack.
Alonso said: “We played well in the Clasico. We lost and will leave (Anfield) feeling disappointed.” “We have to analyze what happened and then think about Rajo.”
Barcelona are also facing doubts after Yamal beat two defenders in a tight space to score a stunning goal that helped them draw with Brugge. The Spanish champions needed to erase three one-point deficits in order to take home points.
The Belgian rivals have found space behind a high defensive line without leader Iñigo Martinez after his departure to the Saudi league last summer.
Coach Hansi Flick said the team must play better without the ball.
“We don’t have the same confidence when we play the offside trap,” Flick said after the tie. “(But) I won’t change the way I play defense.”
Featured players
Kylian Mbappé should enjoy the trip to Rayo, where he can use his speed against a high defensive line.
The French striker leads LaLiga with 13 goals in 11 matches, six more than the next highest scorer.
Activity suspended
Madrid midfielder Aurelien Choameny injured his left thigh muscle in the match against Liverpool and will be out for an undetermined period of time.
Forward Franco Mastantuono also missed the game against Liverpool with a groin injury and could remain on injured reserve.
Barcelona have been hit by injuries and are still without Pedri González, Rafinha, Gabi Paes and goalkeepers João Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
off the pitch
Barcelona will return to training at Camp Nou on Friday as work continues on Europe’s largest stadium. The club said the 23,000 tickets it sold for 5 to 10 euros ($6 to $12) to watch the team practice have sold out.
Club president Joan Laporta said this week that he hoped to play the match at Camp Nou this month.
The team has played regularly at the city’s small Olympic Stadium since the start of the 2023-24 season. His last match at Camp Nou was in May 2023.
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