Sports Desk
MADRID: Matchday 5 in La Liga comes immediately after a midweek round of matches and brings to an end a condensed fixture period before the international break. Here are some things to look out for this weekend before La Liga takes a break.
1 Selection issues for Zidane
Real Madrid faces a tricky visit to play Levante on Sunday evening and there is a feeling that coach Zinedine Zidane still doesn’t know what his strongest eleven is. The Frenchman is handicapped by the loss of Eden Hazard, but in attack Zidane has steered away from playing Karim Benzema and Luka Jovic together to using Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo as wingers behind a lone forward.
Vinicius added to the conundrum with his winning goal to give Madrid a slightly fortunate win at home to Valladolid on Wednesday, while Jovic has so far failed to impress. Against Levante it will be interesting if Zidane sticks with the Serb or if Vinicius comes back into the side.
2 Can Barca continue with positive start?
Although it is still very early days, the signs are much better at FC Barcelona than many expected before the season started. Ronald Koeman’s team has won its first two games with ease, netting a total of seven goals without conceding and the image on the pitch has been much better than the side that looked sad and tired during Quique Setien’s time in charge.
Koeman’s team looks faster, fitter and hungrier, with Philippe Coutinho getting involved and Leo Messi smiling again. There is a question mark over the lack of central defenders and with Clement Lenglet suspended against Sevilla on Sunday that looks to be their main weakness.
3 Home blues to continue for Real Sociedad?
Once again Getafe is off to an excellent start to the season and although its style of football is not always attractive to watch, it is effective as it showed against Betis in midweek.
Jose Bordalas’ men now travel to play Real Sociedad – one of the most attractive sides in La Liga, but who have struggled for form at home since the return of football in June.
In eight games played in front of the empty stands of the Reale Arena, ‘La Real’ has suffered four defeats and its only win was against relegated Espanyol. Down the road in Bilbao, Athletic Club – another side that is usually tough to beat at home – has lost its last four home games. It certainly looks as if the teams with the most passionate home fans are the ones who are missing them most.
4 Early season sackings?
Athletic’s last home defeat was probably the most painful of them all as it lost 1-0 at home to newly promoted Cadiz on Thursday despite playing against nine men for almost half an hour. The loss again highlighted the lack of attacking ideas under coach Gaizka Garitano and although there are obvious weaknesses to the squad, many think a more aggressive coach could get more out of it.
Meanwhile Alaves has managed just one draw and suffered three defeats under new coach Pablo Machin, whose three-man defense has so far failed to work. The club from Vitoria is not known for being patient with its coaches and the fact it is the club’s centenary season only adds to the pressure. The coach that loses this game on Sunday could lose more than three points.
