messi primed for catalan derby after ballon dor snub
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Messi primed for Catalan derby after Ballon d'Or snub

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Messi primed for Catalan derby after Ballon d'Or snub

Lionel Messi
Barcelona - DPA

After overtaking Sevilla last week to return to the top of La Liga, Barcelona are looking to build momentum against local rivals Espanyol in a Catalan derby on Saturday.

Although Barcelona have suffered a recent injury crisis with Samuel Umtiti, Sergi Roberto and others out of action, Lionel Messi's good form has helped them come through it unscathed.

The Argentine forward has three goals and three assists in his last four games across all competitions.

Messi was ranked fifth in the Ballon d’Or vote standings on Monday as Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric ended Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s decade-long hegemony on the trophy.

After being rested for Barca’s comprehensive 4-1 Copa del Rey round of 32 win over Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday, Messi is fresh and has a point to prove.

"We congratulate Modric for winning the Ballon d'Or but Messi being in fifth place is absurd," Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said. "I will not get into discussing the inconsistencies of the prize."

Messi has nine goals in La Liga, trailing top scorer Cristhian Stuani, who has 11 strikes for Girona, and Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas on 10.

Team-mate Suarez has nine as well and the duo are expected to link up again on Saturday, with Suarez returning after taking stem cell treatment on a knee problem.

The Uruguayan hitman is expected to feature against Espanyol and then return to the treatment table, missing the Champions League match against Tottenham on Tuesday.

The top of the table is tightly packed and just seven points separate the league leaders from their crosstown opponents.

Espanyol started the season brilliantly and despite a recent dip in form saw them fall to seventh, confidence is high in Cornella.

Even though traditional nemesis Real Madrid have struggled this season, champions Barcelona have not been able to move clear at the top, struggling to maintain a string of good results.

Second place Sevilla travel to Valencia, while Atletico Madrid, third, host Alaves, fourth, both earlier on Saturday in a pair of exciting fixtures.

On Sunday, Santiago Solari's Real travel to minnows Huesca, bottom of La Liga, and will look to build on their record of six wins from seven games since the coach took charge.

Solari has made some big decisions since taking over, including installing Thibaut Courtois as the first choice goalkeeper and treating Isco as a reserve instead of a key player.

It appears his work is paying off, with Madrid keeping clean sheets in five matches since his appointment, having been notably leaky under predecessor Julen Lopetegui.

One player on the way back to his best is Ballon d’Or winner Modric, who looked tired at the start of the season after leading Croatia to the World Cup final in Russia.

"He’s had a wonderful year and he’s given everything to Real Madrid and his national team," Solari said. "[The award] comes at a time of maturity in his career. 

"It seems to me that at that age it's more beautiful because he can truly value it. We’re all very happy with his prize."

The weekend’s other fixtures are Leganes v Getafe, Villarreal v Celta Vigo, Espanyol v Barcelona, Eibar v Levante, Real Sociedad v Real Valladolid, Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club v Girona.

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

messi primed for catalan derby after ballon dor snub messi primed for catalan derby after ballon dor snub

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

messi primed for catalan derby after ballon dor snub messi primed for catalan derby after ballon dor snub

 



GMT 09:27 2017 Tuesday ,10 October

Macron takes EU reform push to Germany book fair

GMT 12:50 2017 Sunday ,03 December

Shiffrin bags first downhill win

GMT 10:33 2016 Friday ,08 April

Carter v Nonu as Racing eye Toulon's scalp

GMT 10:57 2017 Wednesday ,09 August

Iran's Rouhani names female VPs

GMT 11:21 2017 Monday ,20 February

Tunisian court tries suspects over violence charges

GMT 20:52 2017 Thursday ,30 November

Honeywell to maintain A380, B777 components for Emirates

GMT 02:36 2017 Thursday ,23 November

Casablanca’s president hails achievement

GMT 19:18 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Investment sector attend Saudi Investment Initiative

GMT 07:08 2016 Tuesday ,28 June

Hodgson pays price for sorry England

GMT 16:44 2017 Monday ,17 July

Industrial energy city will provide jobs

GMT 16:06 2017 Sunday ,23 April

Prince Khaled bin Salman appointed US ambassador

GMT 14:00 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

Young professionals meet

GMT 09:35 2017 Friday ,17 November

Mugabe refuses to stand down in talks

GMT 14:26 2017 Monday ,02 October

Macron backs Spanish unity in call with Rajoy

GMT 18:15 2018 Wednesday ,05 September

Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad receives Bahraini researcher
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday