A Sunday for all tastes in European football, for fans of the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A or the English (less important) Cup - the League Cup.
The championship race in Spain seems to be just getting heated up, it is almost impossible to assess which of the three big teams is closest to the title, but perhaps the answer will be given tonight after the clash between Atletico and Barcelona in Madrid, which starts at 21 p.m.
Barça is in second place, the "Kolçoneros" in third place and are separated by only a point after Diego Simeone's team lost to Getafe in the last round, and the Catalans easily defeated Sociedad.
Real Madrid remained alone at the top of the table last night after defeating Villarreal (2:1 with goals from Kylian Mbappe) and are three points ahead with a game in hand over their biggest rival...
Barça were assured of a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Benfica in midweek, while Atletico were knocked out of the European elite for the umpteenth time in a direct duel with Real. This one was probably just as painful as the defeats in the finals...
ĆOLO: THE FIGHT CONTINUES
"We have to see what comes next, the fight continues," said Simeone.
Real eliminated their city rival on penalties, and Julián Álvarez's disallowed goal will be talked about for a long time to come...
- We are disappointed after everything, but also proud. The fans really need to respect everything we do, that's how they behaved after the defeat, no matter how hard it was for them to deal with it. It's not easy for us either, but this team is giving it their all - added the popular Ćolo.
Barcelona, Ćolo has been repeating for weeks, is the best team in Spain.
- Barca are showing the most. It's up to us to make it difficult for them and show that we have put the elimination from the Champions League behind us - Simeone pointed out.
Barca may be a shade ahead of Atletico and Real, but they haven't shown it in their head-to-head matches with Simeone's team.
Atletico, in fact, celebrated 2-1 at Montjuic in the first part of the season, and recently scored four goals (4-4) in the semi-finals of the King's Cup at the same stadium after leading 2-0 and losing 4-2...
- Those two games showed that we have to be focused from the 1st to the 90th minute. Atletico are ready to punish you harshly when you make a mistake, we felt it firsthand - said Barca coach Hansi Flik.
He also commented on Alvarez's penalty in the Madrid derby.
- He was unlucky and I'm sorry that this happened to one of the best strikers in the world - the German's message.
EVERYONE IS LOOKING TOWARDS BERGAMO, AND THE HIGHEST ARE IN THE HALF
Sunday is a very important day in the battle for the Scudetto in Italy. Leader Inter hosts Atalanta (20.45), who are three points behind and who confirmed their championship ambitions seven days ago by outclassing Juventus in the middle of Turin (4:0).
- Of course we believe we can win the title, we have the right to do so - says "goddess" coach Gianpiero Gasperini.
Atalanta have not won their last five home matches, and their streak of defeat against Inter is even longer. The current champions have won their last seven head-to-head matches, six of them in the league and one in the Cup...
- We beat Atalanta 4-0 in the first part of the season, but that wasn't a realistic situation even then. It's a different story now, our rival is showing strength and we have to respond to that. What's most important? Approach and concentration, I know we have everything else - emphasized the coach of "Nera Azzurri" Simone Inzaghi.
Second-placed Napoli, who are one point behind Inter, could benefit from the Lombardy derby. Antonio Conte's team travel to Venice at 12.30:XNUMX.
- We're not that interested in the Atalanta - Inter match. Venice is like a final for us - said Conte succinctly.
"REDS" WANT TO HEAL EUROPEAN WOUNDS WITH A TROPHY
Liverpool is almost certainly the new champion of England, and today they have a chance to win the League Cup - they play the final against Newcastle at Wembley.
The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday, knocked out on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain...
- This final comes at the right time for us, because I'm sure there can be no lack of motivation. We have a painful elimination behind us, but a trophy would help us get over it more easily - said Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
Newcastle has been waiting for a trophy since 1969, when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
- We don't need to emphasize how much a trophy would mean to our community - said Magpies manager Eddie Howe ahead of the clash, which kicks off at 17.30:XNUMX p.m.
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