After the 2022 World Cup, LaLiga de España resumes its competition from Thursday to Saturday for the matchday 15 dispute, in which the derby scheduled for December 31 between Barcelona and Espanyol at the Camp Nou stands out.
The barca arrives at this resumption of the Spanish championship as Leaderwith two points of advantage over the second, the Real Madridwho will visit Real Valladolid on Friday.
In Saturday’s derby, Barcelona will have its Polish striker as a great absentee Robert Lewandowskisuspended three games for his expulsion in the last duel before the World Cup break.
In Qatar, Lewandowski fell in the round of 16 with Poland against France and now he will have to wait to resume the competition with the Catalan team.
In that game on matchday 14, Barça, despite playing with 10, was able to beat Osasuna and Xavi is now confident that his team can continue the good dynamics despite the six weeks that have elapsed since the last game.
The Barcelona coach has to decide who occupies that Lewandowski position in the eleventh. Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati Y Memphis DePay they could do it, but also the French winger Ousmane Dembelerunner-up in the World Cup with his team and who rejoined team training on Monday, so he could be against Espanyol on Saturday, which is sixteenth and fighting for permanence.
Real Madrid plays before Barça on this day, on Friday at Real Valladolid’s ground, so in the event of victory at the José Zorrilla stadium they will be placed interim leader and would send a significant dose of pressure to his great adversary for the title.
The duel against Real Valladolid will serve for Real Madrid to meet again in some way with one of its illustrious former players, the Brazilian Ronaldo Nazariowho presides over the blanquivioleta team.
On Thursday the first matches of the fifteenth round will take place, with an attractive duel between two teams from the European zone, Betis (6th) and Athletic (4th), and the confrontation between Atlético de Madrid (5th). ) and bottom club Elche.
Highlights from LaLiga matchday 15:
Thursday 12/29:
15.15: Betis – Athletic
5:30 p.m.: Atlético Madrid – Elche
Friday 12/30:
5:30 p.m.: Real Valladolid – Real Madrid
Saturday 12/31:
10.00: Barcelona – Espanyol
13.15: Villarreal – Valencia
