Dec 13, 2023, 5:20 PM ET
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Athletic Club vs. Atlético de Madrid is the match of the week
A group of fans participates on December 29, 2022 at the San Mamés stadium in the opening ceremony of the celebration of the 125 years that Athletic Club has celebrated throughout 2023. EFE/Miguel Toña
This Saturday, as part of matchday 17 of LaLiga, Athletic Club hosts Atlético de Madrid to close the year of its 125th anniversary, so there will be a great party as well as exciting football at the San Mamés.
The festivities will include a tribute to Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, who has just left the PGA Tour to join the millionaire LIV Golf controlled by Saudi Arabia. Rahm, from the municipality of Barrika in the province of Vizcaya in the Basque Country, will wear the green jacket that he won when he became champion of the Augusta Masters 2023. The first European golfer to win the Masters and the US Open will take the honorary serve.
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Athletic occupies fifth place in the table, with 29 points – superior to Real Sociedad by goal difference – and would like to get closer to its rival, which is third in the table with 32 points – superior to Barcelona by goal difference. goals.
The colchoneros have won 9 of their last 11 games in LaLiga. Although Atleti has two of the top scorers in the First Division in Antoine Griezmann (9 goals) and Álvaro Morata (8 goals), the team has not been able to score more than three goals in each of its 12 most recent games after beat and whitewash Rayo Vallecano, 7-0. In fact, he has only scored a total of three goals in the last three LaLiga games, including the 1-0 defeat against Barça two games ago.
Meanwhile, Athletic has a positive streak in the last five games with three wins and two draws to one. It should be noted that in the two most recent victories, they scored 4 goals on their way to victory. The top scorers for the rojiblancos are Iñaki Williams (8 goals) and Gorka Guruzeta (7 goals). Williams (3) and Guruzeta (3) have been responsible for 6 of the 10 goals scored by the team in their four most recent games, so they will undoubtedly be the players to watch for the hosts.
Ernesto Valverde’s men expect Diego Simeone’s team to arrive tired after facing and easily beating Lazio in the Champions League on Wednesday, as the oldest team in the First Division wants to celebrate its closing anniversary with a victory in front of its fans . And, as we mentioned, there is the task of getting closer in the classification to that very important third place that is still in sight and within reach.
At the end of the match, former Athletic players will parade on the field — Aritz Aduriz, winner of the Spanish Super Cup with Athletic in 2015, will be present — as well as players from the Lezama Quarry, to receive applause of the Cathedral.
The Legends match between a team from Athletic Club 125 and FC Porto Vintage from One Club Man 2023 João Pinto could not be missed. It will be a match that commemorates the first official match of both teams in European competition, corresponding to the round of 32 of the 1956 European Cup.
Furthermore, Valencia vs. is very intriguing. Barcelona
The recent poor performance of defending champion Barcelona is on everyone’s mind, especially them. They have achieved only one victory in their last four away games heading into this round. For this reason, it has fallen to fourth place in LaLiga, and has been left behind, 7 points behind the leader Girona.
Barcelona’s Danish defender Andreas Christensen (right) fights for the ball with Valencia forward Hugo Duro during a LaLiga match on May 3, 2023 at the Camp Nou. EFE/Alejandro Garcia
Xavi’s pupils arrive with two painful setbacks – at home against Girona on matchday 16, 4-2, and away against Antwerp in the Champions League, 3-2 on Wednesday. Yes, the Blaugrana team advanced from the group stage in the continental tournament, but it is mistakes like Oriol Romeu’s and Iñaki Peña’s that continue to worry.
Could Valencia, eleventh in the table with 19 points, be able to surprise at home this Saturday when they host Barcelona? One point in their favor is that the Ches have played very well at the Mestalla, allowing only three goals in total there so far this season. In comparison, they have received 18 points as visitors.
Hugo Duro has to lead the offensive charge for the locals; He has 7 goals this season. However, Valencia has suffered three defeats and saved a goalless draw in its last four games.
For Barça, Robert Lewandowski was reunited with the goal at the domestic level last Sunday, in the 4-2 defeat against Girona, after almost a month without scoring. He now has 8 goals and is the champions’ top scorer. Lewa was going to rest on Wednesday, as Xavi had announced, but in the end he played 72 minutes during the defeat in Belgium. We have to wonder if the fatigue factor due to the short week will show up for Barça as it could for Atleti in their match.
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Matchday 17 of LaLiga on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Friday December 15
Saturday December 16
Sunday December 17
Monday December 18
2023-12-13 23:05:43
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