(Football news) When the Spanish Super Cup was held from January 11th to 15th, there were a couple of LaLiga Santander matches that had to be moved and now those four teams will face each other in a mini round of midweek action. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Betis and Valencia CF will now play the postponed league fixtures over the coming days.
Real Betis vs FC Barcelona: Los Béticos look to end their poor home record against Barça
FC Barcelona approach their midweek fixture with a boost, as Robert Lewandowski is back after completing a three-match suspension, during which time Los Blaugranas managed to earn three victories. This means they’re already guaranteed to be the winter champions. For their part, Real Betis come into this game in the midst of a battle to qualify for the Champions League. Los Béticos will hope to take advantage of the passion of their home crowd to beat FC Barcelona and add three key points towards their goal.
It should be an interesting duel as these are two teams with a similar idea of how to play the game, with two coaches, Xavi and Manuel Pellegrini, preferring a style of football that focuses on possession and attack. Those styles clashed just a month ago when they met in the Spanish Super Cup, as the two teams went back and forth and ultimately needed penalties to decide the game, at which point Barça triumphed.
Real Madrid vs Valencia CF: Voro is back after Gattuso’s departure
On Thursday, the midweek action continues as another of the postponed games is held in Madrid, where Real Madrid will face Valencia CF at the Santiago Bernabéu. Both teams are keen to get back to winning ways, after Los Blancos drew at home last time out against Real Sociedad, dropping two points that left them further behind FC Barcelona in the fight to finish top of the LaLiga Santander table.
Meanwhile, Valencia CF are experiencing some turbulent times and Voro will take charge of this match following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso. This is the eighth time that the club’s ‘fire extinguisher’ will take temporary charge of the first team following the exit of a manager, with his most recent experience in the dugout coming over the last four games of the 2020/21 season, in which he oversaw two wins, one draw and one defeat.
Taking three points away from the Bernabéu would be a major boost for Valencia CF and they did recently push Real Madrid to the limit in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, another match that was decided on penalties. So, this midweek clash at the Santiago Bernabéu could be a very interesting and evenly matched game, closing out this mini round of midweek action, one that boasts a lot of quality.
Also read: Barcelona play away at Real Betis as Lewandowski returns
