La Liga Returns: Can Atletico Continue Their Unbeaten Run?

It’s been an enjoyable international break, these last few days. It was fun while it lasted. But now, it’s time for a different kind of football.

With no more international football till March 2021, it’s club football all the way. And that means the return of action in leagues like the Spanish La Liga.

Clubs in the country will be scratching their heads as players return to the club injured. For Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos picked up an injury with Spain. In South America, Luis Suarez contracted the COVID-19 virus. And now, he will be missing in action for Atletico Madrid when they take on his old employer, Barcelona.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico remains the only unbeaten side in La Liga after seven games this season. With Joao Felix and Luis Suarez combining to score 10 of their 17 goals so far, they have won five of their seven this season. And they’ll be looking to make it eight games without defeat when they face the Catalan giants.

Their opponents, Barcelona, are in seventh, trying to climb up the ladder. They have lost two games already this season, although they are unbeaten in their last four.

This one is not a title-decider like the clash between both sides in May 2014. Nevertheless, it’s a clash that both sides will count for both sides in the La Liga title race.

If the history between both sides is anything to go by, Atletico Madrid is in for a swell evening. Asides their 2-3 Spanish Super Cup triumph over Barcelona early this year, Atletico Madrid have failed to defeat Barcelona in 10 games.

In La Liga, over the past five years, the best Atletico Madrid have managed is four draws against Barcelona. That’s four draws, zero wins, and seven defeats. The only surviving unbeaten run in La Liga is definitely at risk this weekend.

A game once notorious for the sending off of players has seen the intensity levels reduce. There’s only been one red card shown in the last eight meetings between these two giants of Spanish football. That’s compared to the eight red cards in 12 games played between 2015 and 2017.

There’s no better fixture with which to mark the return of La Liga football. Both sides need to avoid defeat in this one, for the sake of momentum. Which of these two teams will start their hectic holiday schedule with a win – or at least avoid a defeat?

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