The biggest fixture in European football has been scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 24-26. If the game is played on the 26th, Suarez could realistically feature, although he would likely lack game sharpness as his FIFA ban prevents him from training with his teammates.
Fixtures for the 2014-15 season were released on Thursday, per the LFP's official website , allowing La Liga fans to get an early look at when the big showdowns will occur this season.
Atletico Madrid put together a dream campaign to win La Liga and reach the Champions League final last season, a combination few thought possible when the first ball was kicked. It marked the first time in a decade the Primera Division trophy did not boast the name of Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Now they face an even greater task to retain their title, after Barca and Madrid added the likes of Suarez, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez to their already stellar squads this summer.
Defending the title will likely prove difficult for a Colchoneros side that will look very different once the dust settles after the summer transfer window. Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis will all be missing from last year's lineup.
With that in mind, the official set of fixtures for the new campaign were awaited with much anticipation.
Top Matches to Watch
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
The rivals from Madrid faced off in multiple memorable encounters during the 2013-14 season, highlighted by the Champions League final. Atletico took the lead in the first half courtesy of Diego Godin and held it until stoppage-time of the second before Sergio Ramos levelled the score.
Real eventually took control in extra-time to raise the trophy. But it was a match that showed Atletico's season-long success was legitimate. They came within a couple minutes of pulling off a remarkable double and winning a huge grudge clash at the same time.
If Atletico are going to contend again, the matches against the Blancos will once again prove vital. Beating Real at home and getting a draw away would be deemed a great success, but there is little doubt that Atletico's squad is currently weaker than last year, while Real's has only grown stronger.
No comments:
Post a Comment