SM
Portugal vs. Croatia: 2 hrs 47 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
ML
La Liga | Gameweek 28
Jun 13, 2020 at 9pm UK
Estadi de Son Moix
BL

Mallorca
0 - 4
Barcelona


Rodriguez (86')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Vidal (2'), Braithwaite (37'), Alba (80'), Messi (90+3')
Vidal (42'), Alba (73')

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez fit for Barcelona's first game back

:Headline: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez fit for Barcelona's first game back: ID:402309: from db_amp
Pair prepare to pose a threat against relegation-threatened hosts.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will be available for selection when Barcelona return to LaLiga action at Mallorca on Saturday night.

Messi has returned to full training after missing a few sessions last week with a thigh issue as the league leaders ready themselves for their first game in three months.

Suarez, meanwhile, thought his season had been ended when he underwent surgery on his right knee in January, but Barca head coach Quique Setien confirmed he would have the Uruguayan and Messi at his disposal.

He said at a press conference: “Fortunately Messi, these kinds of players that have been playing for so many years, they know how to control their fatigue.

Luis Suarez had surgery on his right knee in January (Peter Byrne/PA)

“I’m sure if there’s some risk, Messi will be the first to say that he needs to rest.

“Every day (Suarez) is in better shape and after five months it’s going to be great for him to play some minutes and try to find the best Suarez.”

LaLiga became the second major European league to resume behind closed doors on Thursday evening amid the coronavirus pandemic, after the Bundesliga restarted last month.

Setien admitted to some trepidation as he added: “All the managers are worried because we don’t know exactly how everything will go in this first game.

“We can expect it but we don’t know how we will answer to this new situation. – if Barcelona will be the Barcelona that we saw before the break, or if we will see a new Barcelona.

“Also, we don’t know if we will face a different or the same Mallorca.”

Real Madrid will return to the Bernabeu on Sunday (Nick Potts/PA)

Barca can extend their advantage atop the standings to five points on a day where rock-bottom Espanyol will play Alaves, Celta Vigo welcome Villarreal and struggling Leganes play host to Real Valladolid.

Second-placed Real Madrid return to the Bernabeu on Sunday as they host Eibar, Atletico Madrid travel to Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna go to Real Sociedad.

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich could move closer to an eighth successive top-flight title with victory against Borussia Monchengladbach at teatime on Saturday.

The Bavarian giants are seven points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who go to Fortuna Dusseldorf earlier on Saturday, with four games left.

However, they will be without midfielder Thiago, who has undergone groin surgery, while strike pair Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski are suspended after collecting their fifth yellow cards in last week’s win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Robert Lewandowski is suspended for Bayern Munich’s game against Borussia Monchengladbach (John Walton/PA)

While they have won their last 12 competitive fixtures, reaching the DFB Cup final after downing Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek, Bayern boss Hansi Flick knows the past few weeks have taken their toll.

He said: “We’re focused on ourselves, we want to win our matches. Of course the last few weeks have been exhausting. But we’ve managed it so that those who’ll play can turn in a top performance.”

Gladbach were the last side to defeat Bayern in the reverse fixture six months ago, and Flick added: “They’ve assembled a good team, they play attractive football and are enjoying a very successful season.”

Cologne welcome Union Berlin, whose city rivals Hertha host Eintracht Frankfurt, while Werder Bremen travel to Paderborn and Freiburg visit Wolfsburg.

On Sunday, Mainz go up against Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen go to Schalke.

amp_article__402309 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-06-12 19:56:24:
html db last update - 2020-06-12 19:56:24 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Luis Suarez

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid38298187266195
2Barcelona38267579443585
3GironaGirona38256785463981
4Atletico MadridAtletico382441070432776
5Athletic Bilbao381911861372468
6Real Sociedad3816121051391260
7Real BetisBetis38141594845357
8Villarreal381411136565053
9Valencia381310154045-549
10AlavesAlaves381210163646-1046
11Osasuna38129174556-1145
12Getafe381013154254-1243
13Celta Vigo381011174657-1141
14Sevilla381011174854-641
15Mallorca38816143344-1140
16Las PalmasLas Palmas381010183347-1440
17Rayo Vallecano38814162948-1938
RCadizCadiz38615172655-2933
RAlmeria38312234375-3221
RGranada3849253879-4121
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .