Against Atlético, Barça wants to overcome tensions

"We must all sacrifice a part of ourselves, the players including (...) We are a team and we must act as a team," hammered on Monday the Barça coach, on the eve of the 33rd day of Liga. A tone as martial as the weekend was freezing for the Catalans. Held in check on Saturday on Celta Vigo's lawn (2-2), the Blaugranas saw Real Madrid take two points ahead of the La Liga in their 1-0 victory over Espanyol on Sunday. 

More worryingly, the 32nd day of the championship was marked by rumors of tensions within the Barcelona workforce. Relations between the star Lionel Messi and the assistant to Setién, in particular, would be degraded, according to the local press. And this is the medium-term future of the Barça coach, who arrived in January in place of Ernesto Valverde, already threatened by some media ...

"Fluid communication"

"There is always controversy (...) because we all have our own way of seeing things, of thinking," tried to reassure the Catalan technician on Monday. I see it as something natural. I think that the communication is fluid and I do not attach importance to specific incidents ”, cleared Setién. 

The claimed serenity of the Catalan locker room will undergo a serious test from Tuesday, since it is Atlético Madrid, 3rd (11 points behind Barça) and in full renaissance since the resumption of La Liga after three months of interruption linked to Covid- 19, who will travel to Camp Nou. "We have never won at Camp Nou in La Liga, so we will seize this opportunity," immediately warned Diego Simeone, coach of the Colchoneros, who remain on four wins in a row but who no longer have won in the legendary Barça stadium since 2006.

In Catalonia, the people of Madrid will have to do without the services of Koke and Stefan Savic, warned on Saturday during the 2-1 victory against Alavés and suspended accordingly Tuesday, for accumulation of yellow cards. For its part, Real Madrid will welcome Getafe on Thursday, surprising 6th and still pretending to Europe for next season. The presence of Eden Hazard, very discreet against Espanyol and out of the field limping on Sunday, remains uncertain. But the Merengues will be able to count on their goalscorer Karim Benzema, decisive passer in Barcelona and main architect of the reversal of positions in the ranking between the two rival clubs.

"Fight to the end"

On Sunday, the pillar of Barça Gérard Piqué relaunched the war of nerves. “Remember one thing, we are Barça and it is not all over yet. Fighting to the end is part of our DNA, ”wrote the defender on social media. In the ray of good news for Barcelona, ​​Luis Suarez regained his offensive verve by scoring two goals on Saturday against Vigo, his first since a meniscus operation in January. 

Another returning member, Sergio Busquets, who has served his suspension match and is therefore part of the group convened for Tuesday's match. Injured in the ribs ten days ago, Sergi Roberto also reinstates the blaugrana workforce, unlike Frenkie de Jong, hit in the calf.

Still, the calendar may complicate things for the Blaugranas: in addition to Atlético, they must challenge Villarreal (5th) on Sunday, while the Merengues will have an easier end of the season, with three teams from the second half of the table to face in the last six matches.

"I am in a period where I learn a lot (...) It is a process that takes time," said Setién on Monday. Still it will be enough, five days before the end of the championship.

The program for the 33rd day

Tuesday
Leganes-Seville
Mallorca-Celta Vigo
Barcelona-Atlético Madrid 

Wednesday
Alaves-Granada
Valencia CF-Athletic Bilbao
Betis Seville-Villarreal
Valladolid-Levante 

Thursday
Eibar-Osasuna
Real Sociedad-Espanyol Barcelona
Real Madrid-Getafe

Read also

• Benzema's magic heel on video