Wounded Barca, Shaky Real Madrid Need La Liga Morale Boost
Spanish champions Barcelona and current league leaders Real Madrid are looking to build confidence this weekend in La Liga after chastening nights in the Champions League.
Barca host Alaves on Saturday while Madrid visit Girona on Sunday, as the top two aim to fend off in-form pair Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, who are hot on their tails.
Barcelona suffered a morale-crushing 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea on Tuesday, while Real Madrid’s defense wobbled alarmingly in also conceding three at Greek side Olympiacos, although they managed to claim a 4-3 victory thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe.
After the hefty loss in London, Barca coach Hansi Flick was left perplexed and scrabbling around for some positivity.
“I see how we train, the quality, the intensity. It’s totally different than maybe six weeks ago,” he told reporters.
“Players are coming back, increasing the quality in the training. I have good feeling about that and am (feeling) positive.”
The Chelsea defeat was the first time Flick’s Barca had failed to score in 2025.
Raphinha has made a couple of substitute appearances on his way back from injury and the Brazilian may get to play a larger role when Alaves visit the reopened Camp Nou.
“You can see I am happy that Raphinha is back again… Marcus (Rashford) is at his level after flu, Pedri will come (back from injury soon),” said Flick.
Barca’s first Camp Nou match in two-and-a-half years was a 4-0 thumping of Athletic Bilbao last Saturday, and a similar performance against Alaves would help paper over some cracks in the short-term.
