Good time to visit Barca: Atletico – Ronaldo, Bale back for record-chasing Real

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MADRID, Sept 20, (AFP): Real Madrid have the luxury of welcoming back Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale as they aim to set a new La Liga record with a 17th consecutive win against Villarreal on Wednesday.

Both Ronaldo and Bale missed Madrid’s 2-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday as Real matched the Liga record of 16 wins registered by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010/11 through illness and a hip injury respectively.

“They are fine. They have trained normally, the two of them are 100 percent,” said Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday.

Despite a 12-game winning run to end last season, Real still missed out on the La Liga title to Barcelona by a point, and Zidane insisted a new record run will mean nothing unless they end a five-year drought without the league title come May.

“The records are nice and we are going to try to keep winning. That is what we want, but we haven’t won anything,” added the Frenchman.

“This is going to be a very long and difficult season. There will be difficult moments. Just now it seems like everything is going perfectly, but that won’t always be the case.

“Tomorrow we have another game, nothing more. There is nothing else in our minds.”

However, on top of setting a new record streak, Madrid could open up a significant gap on title rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who face each other later on Wednesday at the Camp Nou.

Real already lead Barca by three points after four games with Atletico a further point back in fourth.

“It doesn’t matter what happens, said Zidane. “The two of them are very strong and will be there (fighting for the title.) We have to stay ahead and keep winning.”

Fernando Torres believes Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona on Wednesday at just the right time after emphatically bouncing back with three wins over the past week.

The showdown is the first major clash of the La Liga season, but despite their free-scoring form, both sides face the prospect of being cut adrift from league leaders Real Madrid even at this early stage.

“It’s a good time to visit Barcelona,” Torres said after netting twice in Atletico’s 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

“It seems like they are playing as we have become accustomed to. They are the most difficult opponent we have faced in the last few years without a doubt and we know how difficult it will be.

“But when you are winning and playing well it always gives you that little more confidence.”

Atletico scored 10 times and kept three clean sheets in seeing off Celta Vigo, PSV Eindhoven and Sporting in eight days.

However, they already trail city rivals Real by four points after disappointing draws against Alaves and Leganes to open the campaign.

“We just needed to find the goals because we have been consistent in the way we have played despite the two draws in the first two games,” added Torres.

“The team is confident and now we have the toughest game we have had until now.”

Despite dumping Barca out of the Champions League twice in the past three years, Atletico haven’t won at the Camp Nou since Torres scored twice in a 3-1 victory during his first stint at the club in 2006.

Barca also hit five at the weekend against newly promoted Leganes to back up their 7-0 hammering of Celtic in the Champions League with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar scoring 10 times in their first two starts of the season together up front.

However, a shock home defeat to Alaves earlier this month leaves Luis Enrique’s men three points behind Real in the early running for the title race.

Both sides will make changes having rotated at the weekend.

Enrique will recall Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets with the only doubt for the hosts whether Samuel Umtiti or Javier Mascherano partners Gerard Pique at the heart of the defence.

The rested Gabi and Juanfran are expected to return for Atletico in place of Nicolas Gaitan and Sime Vrsaljko.

Sevilla can move up to second on Tuesday if they continue their dominance of the Seville derby over Real Betis.

The Europa League holders haven’t lost in the league to Betis in four years and are strong favourites for one of Spain’s most passionate encounters.

At the bottom of the table Valencia are looking to pick up their first points of the season when Alaves visit the Mestalla on Thursday with Valencia boss Pako Ayestaran’s job on the line.

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