Gerard Pique (C) of FC Barcelona celebrates with his teammate Luis Suarez after scoring his team’s third goal during the La Liga match against RCD Espanyol at Camp Nou in Barcelona on December 7. (AFP)
Spanish Big Two Real Madrid and Barcelona would surely like a quiet start to 2015, after all the long-distance travel and partying of their superstars during the two-month Christmas break.
Instead, they have tough away matches on Sunday, at ambitious sides Valencia and Real Sociedad. Real are one point above Barca atop La Liga with a game in hand. They will go to Mestalla looking for their 13th straight league win, after an unforgettable 2014 that gave them the Champions League, the Club World Cup and the Spanish Cup.
However, 2014 actually finished on a flat note for Cristiano Ronaldo and company, with a 4-2 friendly defeat against AC Milan in Dubai on Tuesday.
Real are claiming the defeat does not curtail their run of 22 straight wins in all competitions, but some sections of the media are saying that it does.
Los Merengues will again be without injured midfielder Luka Modric. Welsh winger quashed rumours about a possible return to the Premier League by saying: “Go to Manchester United? I’m very happy at Madrid, the city, the climate and a club I love. My contract finishes in 2019 and I could sign a new deal.
“It has been a fantastic year for me. I wanted to come to Real Madrid to win titles and work alongside the best players and that is exactly what I have done in a single year. I hope that we keep improving, winning more titles and that I can keep giving my all.”
When asked about the trip to Valencia, Bale replied: “It is just another game but we want to win. We are preparing for it a hundred per cent. I am excited to play in the game. We will aim to take the three points and start the year well.”
Valencia are fourth and have just signed Uruguayan midfielder Enzo Perez from Benfica.
Meanwhile, young winger Sofiane Feghouli said: “This is a very important game for us, against the best team in the world. “They are the favourites to win, but we will certainly make things difficult for them.”
Later Sunday, Barca will visit Real Sociedad’s Estadio Anoeta, where they have not managed to win in four visits since the Basques returned to the top flight in 2010.
David Moyes has managed to lift Sociedad above the relegation zone and into 14th place in his brief reign.
“We have beaten them several times before and will be trying to do so again,” veteran captain Xabi Prieto said.
“They are an excellent team, so we will have to be really concentrated and alert on Sunday.”
In third place, three points behind Barca, are Atletico Madrid, who have given their fans a late Christmas present with the return of prodigal son Fernando Torres.
The Spain striker will not be ready for Saturday’s game at home to Levante - the team he made his debut against back in 2001 - but he will be up in the stands cheering the team on.
Saturday will also see Sevilla v Celta Vigo, Elche v Villarreal, Deportivo Coruna v Athletic Bilbao and Malaga v Almeria.
In addition to the two big games, Sunday will see the local derby between Getafe and Rayo Vallecano plus Espanyol v Eibar, while the Cordoba vs Granada clash is scheduled for Monday.
