La Liga

LIONEL MESSI may be a false No9 but he could inflict Real problems in Saturday’s El Clasico.
The Barcelona icon hopes to send Real Madrid to a third straight defeat.

Lionel Messi should again be spearheading the Barcelona team against their fiercest rivals Real Madrid on Saturday

El Clasico veterans Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema are likely to return for Real Madrid for this weekend’s’s trip to Barcelona

But Spain’s top two sides have both made spluttering starts to the season, with playmaker Eden Hazard still out injured for Real.
New Barca manager Ronald Koeman is already under pressure for this Nou Camp showpiece.
And visiting chief Zinedine Zidane would be under equal strain if Real lose.

Zidane’s men have succumbed twice at home in the past week, 1-0 to newly-promoted Cadiz in LaLiga and 3-2 against Shakhtar Donetsk in Wednesday’s Champions League group opener.

So with each boss under a glaring spotlight over their selections and tactics, here’s how they could line up.
Koeman’s choice seems pretty clear, mainly thanks to star left-back Jordi Alba returning from injury.
Brazilian Neto should remain in goal, although regular No1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen has nearly recovered from a knee problem.
And in front of Neto, Koeman appears certain to again field a back four, with Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet in central defence.

Sergi Roberto may edge out Sergino Dest on the right, with Alba marauding down the opposite flank.
Sergio Busquets is the likely anchorman in midfield, aside Dutch playmaker Frenkie de Jong.
Then come the creative talents who could make or break Koeman’s first season in his dream managerial job.

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is hoping to condemn Real Madrid to a third straight defeatCredit: Getty Images – Getty

France striker Karim Benzema should be back to lead Real’s attack in Saturday afternoon’s El Clasico at the Nou CampCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Resurgent Philippe Coutinho and 17-year-old left-winger Ansu Fati seem shoe-ins as Barca aim to rise from ninth in the early LaLiga table.
And despite his erratic form, Antoine Griezmann is expected to still keep out Manchester United’s summer loan target Ousmane Dembele. 
That leaves Messi alone furthest forward, albeit with a licence to let his wizardry roam.
As for Real, Zidane will once more be without Hazard, Dani Carvajal and Martin Odegaard, with Mariano Diaz and Alvaro Odriozola also doubtful.
Third in LaLiga, Real are likely to recall Spain right-back Nacho, with France star Ferland Mendy reverting to the left and Marcelo facing the axe.
El Clasico legend Sergio Ramos is tipped to return alongside Raphael Varane in the middle of defence, despite missing Real’s shock Euro defeat against Ukrainian champs Shakhtar through injury.
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, 30, is another established ace set for a comeback and he should partner 35-year-old Luka Modric.
Brazilian Casemiro will supply the graft alongside their craft.

Ever-reliable Karim Benzema and blossoming Vinicius Junior should return in attack, with Marco Asensio poised to fend off the claims of Isco and Lucas Vazquez down the right.
It was Vinicius whose opener set up a 2-0 Bernabeu victory in the last El Clasico in March, before Real returned from the coronavirus lockdown to overhaul Barca to the title with ten straight wins.
And while that was run was unforgettable, both teams this time will consider defeat unthinkable.

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GERARD PIQUE wants to see Barcelona name the Camp Nou after Lionel Messi despite the star’s falling out with the club.
The LaLiga giants almost lost the Argentine forward in the summer when he attempted to enact a release clause in his contract.

Gerard Pique has paid tribute to Lionel Messi ahead of a vital year in his Barcelona careerCredit: Reuters

The defender wants the renovated Camp Nou to be named after his team-mateCredit: AFP or licensors

But Messi backed down ahead of an ensuing legal battle, and Pique wants to see the talisman honoured by his club.
The defender told La Vanguardia: “As president, I would have acted differently.
“I asked Leo to stay. I didn’t have many dealings with him at that time because I thought it was a very personal decision.
“I remember I said, ‘Leo, it’s one year, and then new people [to run the club] will come’.

“I ask myself, ‘How can it be that the best player in history, who we have had the holy luck to enjoy, gets up one day and sends a burofax because he feels that they are not listening to him?’
“Everything is too shocking. What’s going on? Leo deserves everything.

We must preserve our legends, not discredit them. It makes me nervous.
Gerard Pique

“The new stadium should be named after him, and then that of the sponsor. We must preserve our legends, not discredit them. It makes me nervous.”
Pique has not hidden his ambitions to one day run for Barcelona’s club presidency.

Next year’s elections will come too soon for the 33-year-old but he made clear what he would do when the Camp Nou undergoes a long-awaited renovation.
Josep Maria Bartomeu cannot stand for the role again and Pique admitted his dismay at Barcelona’s social media scandal.

Accounts linked to the club were allegedly hired to spread dissent against players, a situation that left the Spaniard “hurt”.
Pique also wants to see Pep Guardiola, Xavi, Carles Puyol and other Blaugrana legends offered a role at the club.
But, with El Clasico on the horizon this weekend, Barcelona’s latest row was also on his mind.
A second wage cut is reportedly being asked of players after they accepted a reduction amid the onset of the coronavirus crisis – and Pique wants the matter to be solved calmly.

The former Man Utd defender, who has signed his own new deal involving a temporary pay-cut, continued: “As a captain, I defend the interests of the team. And here we have a united dressing room.
“Then they say that the dressing room is split and I don’t know what else. They did it when many players were with their national teams.
“In a personal capacity, every player is free to accept the club’s proposal voluntarily.
“Another thing is when they force you unilaterally and that the way they have done it. There, I totally disagree.”

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GERARD PIQUE has reportedly agreed to accept a 50 per cent pay cut on his £220,000-a-week wages at Barcelona for the rest of the season.
Sport reports the 33-year-old centre-back accepted his salary will be slashed in HALF as a result of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gerard Pique will see his Barcelona wages halved this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The report states Pique – who has been at the Nou Camp since 2008 – asked the club how big a percentage hit he needed to take in order to help the cash-strapped side.
As part of the agreement, Pique signed a new contract with the Catalan giants until 2024.
The Spaniard’s release clause has been set at £450million – with his extension ‘subject to making a certain number of appearances in the 2021-22 season’.
The former Manchester United youngster was one of four players who all agreed to ‘temporary’ pay cuts, Barcelona confirmed.

Dutch ace Frenkie De Jong, 23, and French defender Clement Lenglet, 25, both signed extensions that run until 2026.
German keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, 28, penned a new deal which expires in 2025.
The new deals appear to have split the dressing room amid the pay-cut row in Catalonia.
Under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu is said to have called for a 25 per cent reduction, angering the club’s stars.

Many of the disgruntled first-team players reportedly signed a letter sent to the board opposing a pay cut.
And there is now thought to be upset within the squad after the new deals were announced following Barcelona’s Champions League opener on Tuesday.
Barca beat Ferencvaros 5-1 with Lionel Messi scoring for a record 16th consecutive European campaign but Pique was sent off.
Some reports even claim Pique – who has two kids with pop star Shakira – signed the letter before individually negotiating new terms with club chiefs – leaving certain team-mates fuming.
Barca have been hit hard in the pocket by the spread of Covid-19 with the LaLiga giants losing £180m last season alone.

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REAL MADRID striker Luka Jovic could be facing six months in jail, reports claim.
The Serbian is in hot water in his native country for allegedly breaking lockdown rules back in March.

Jovic allegedly broke coronavirus quarantine ruled when he returned to Belgrade to spend time with girlfriend SofijaCredit: Instagram / @lukajovic

The couple have shared snaps from many holidays since being together, including from Rome’s Colosseum

Jovic allegedly returned to Belgrade for Sofija’s birthdayCredit: Instagram / @lukajovic

And according to El Partidazo de Cope, Serbian prosecutors are demanding that he be sentenced to six months in jail for ‘not complying with health protocols after his return from Spain’.
Jovic, 22, is believed to have travelled from Madrid to Belgrade in order to visit pregnant girlfriend Sofija Milosevic, 30.
Pictures circulated on social media of the couple supposedly walking the streets of Serbia’s capital city.
According to the Madrid star’s father Milan, the snaps were actually taken in Spain, but he did admit that his son had returned to his native country.

He told Marca: “Luka had two [coronavirus] tests done and he tested negative on both.
“That’s why he thought he could come to Serbia.
“Now it seems like he’s a major criminal. If he has to go to jail, then he goes.
“I’m totally in agreement with the [Serbian] president and prime minster [for threatening criminal charges], but only if he’s guilty.

Jovic has struggled to make an impact since joining Real Madrid and started Tuesday’s shock loss to ShakhtarCredit: AFP or licensors

Sofija, 30, is a Serbian modelCredit: Refer to Caption

Sofija’s birthday was March 18, at the height of the first wave of Covid-19Credit: Refer to Caption

“I would support that decision if he’d done something wrong, but he arrived in Belgrade and stayed at home.
“[His girlfriend] Sofia is pregnant and she couldn’t go out [to celebrate her birthday].
“Some photos have emerged of the two out having fun, but they were from Spain.”
Madrid stars had been told to self-isolate after a member of the club’s basketball team had tested positive for Covid-19.
But Los Blancos later revealed that Jovic was allowed to travel back to Serbia for medical reasons.
First-team duo Mariano Diaz and Martin Odegaard have since tested positive.

Luka Jovic gives stunning Wag a cheeky wink as Real Madrid ace keeps fit isolating with Serbian model Sofija Milosevic More