Na serious wahala dey for Spanish La Liga as Atlético Madrid and Barcelona go face each other for three big matches inside two weeks. The first one na for La Liga this Saturday night for Metropolitano Stadium for Madrid.
Barcelona dey top the table with 73 points, but Real Madrid dey follow dem with 69 points. If Barça no win this match, dem fit lose their lead. Atlético dey fourth with 57 points, and dem no dey too worry about title again, but dem still want win for confidence sake.
Ademola Lookman, the Naija forward wey join Atlético this year, don become important player for Simeone team. Since e come, e don score four goals and give two assists for six matches. For Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona last month, Lookman score one goal and assist another as Atlético win 4-3 on aggregate.
Lookman talk say, “Na special game against tough opponent. We need dey ready and prepare well.” The 28-year-old player say e dey work on his defensive game under Simeone, and e dey ready for the three matches against Barcelona.
For Barcelona side, big problem don show. Their captain Raphinha don get injury and no go play. The Brazilian dey important for Barça—e don score 19 goals and give 8 assists this season. Coach Hansi Flick talk say e don allow Raphinha go Brazil for few days to clear him mind.
Flick say, “If person dey committed to win for Barcelona, na Raphinha.” Marcus Rashford go likely replace am for the match. Rashford don overcome him own injury problems and ready to play.
Atlético get plenty injury problems too. Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Pablo Barrios, Johnny Cardoso, Rodrigo Mendoza, and Marc Pubill no go play. Simeone fit change him tactics because of this.
The pitch for Metropolitano no too good, and Flick talk say e don tell him players to adapt. Both teams sabi each other well after many matches last year, so no surprise go happen.
After this La Liga match, both teams go meet again for Champions League quarter-finals on April 8 and April 14. Atlético also get Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad for April 18.
Lookman say him secret na recovery, eating right, and sleeping right. “Do everything wey you fit do to dey your best,” e add. The Naija forward don already score against both Real Madrid and Barcelona since e come Spain.
For other La Liga match, Real Madrid go play against Mallorca on Saturday afternoon. Mallorca dey 18th place and dey fight relegation. Real Madrid dey without captain Federico Valverde because of suspension, but Mbappé and Jude Bellingham dey back from injury.
Real Madrid get Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich next week, but dem must win against Mallorca first. Dem no win for two of their last three trips to Mallorca stadium.
Kick-off time for Atlético vs Barcelona na 9pm CET (8pm UK time, 3pm ET). For Mallorca vs Real Madrid, na 3pm ET. Both matches go show for ESPN and SuperSport for Nigeria.
Atlético predicted lineup: Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Baena, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez. Barcelona predicted lineup: Joan; Eric, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran.
Some pundits predict Barcelona go win 3-2, but Atlético go give dem hard time. Lookman performance go key for Atlético chances. For Barcelona, Rashford get chance to prove himself without Raphinha.
The next two weeks go define both teams season. Lookman and him teammates dey ready for the challenge. Barcelona must win to keep their title hopes alive. The tension dey high, and football fans everywhere dey wait for the action.
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