Key Champions League clashes in store for LaLiga quartet

Published on: 17 October 2017

The Champions League returns this midweek with LaLiga clubs once more in the spotlight. Real Madrid, Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona are all top of their groups and will be looking for another victory this matchday in order to stay in pole position to progress to the knockout stage, while Atletico Madrid need to win in order to catapult themselves right back into the reckoning for qualification to the next round.

The Santiago Bernabeu is all set for a top-of-the-table Group H encounter between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur FC, who have made a fine start to their European campaign. Both sides have won each of their two games so far, meaning that the winners of this clash – assuming it does not finish all square – will not only move clear at the summit, but also take a huge step towards the last 16. The clubs have met before in this competition, in the 2010/11 season, when Los Merengues eased through, helped by a 4-0 first-leg mauling of the Londoners in Madrid.

This mouth-watering match-up on Tuesday evening is headlined by the showdown between two of the highest scorers in this year's tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of four Champions League goals this term is bettered only by the five scored by Harry Kane, who heads to Madrid in red-hot form. This was Zinedine Zidane's verdict on the fixture: "It's the first 'final' in the battle to win the group. It's going to be a great match for fans of good football and hopefully we can get the three points. We know that Kane is a great player, but Tottenham aren't just about Kane; they're a really good side." Gareth Bale is not fit to face his old club, while Zidane also remains without Dani Carvajal and Mateo Kovacic.

Also on Tuesday, Sevilla will be seeking to edge closer to a return to the round of 16. Eduardo Berizzo's men lead Group B on four points and a win away to FC Spartak Moscow would put them well on course to achieve their aim. Nevertheless, Berizzo is keenly aware that triumphing at the Otkrytiye Arena is a tough assignment: "We're going to play attacking football, just like we always do. Spartak weren't able to beat Maribor, unlike us, but they also managed to get a draw against Liverpool. They're a good team who can hurt you at any moment," said the Argentinian tactician.

Turning to Wednesday, Atletico Madrid can ill afford to slip up on their visit to Azerbaijan, where they have to prevail against Qarabag  FK in order to reignite their hopes of reaching the knockout stage after collecting a solitary point from their opening two matches. A draw or loss would give the club coached by Diego Simeone – who did not include Juanfran or Luciano Vietto in the travelling party – a real mountain to climb.

Last but not least, Barcelona play host to pointless Olympiacos  FC at the Camp Nou with their sights set on keeping up their 100% record in Group D. Ernesto Valverde's troops dispatched Juventus FC and Sporting CP on the previous matchdays and have yet to concede in the competition. It will be an extra special encounter for Valverde considering that he had two successful stints at the helm of Olympiacos, capturing three Greek titles in as many seasons at the club.

Source: laliga.es

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