Madrid, Atleti, Barça, LaLiga and the Champions League

Madrid at 4pm, Atlético at 6:15pm, and Barça at 8:30pm. Their three rivals in the league, Eibar Espanyol and Real Sociedad, crucial in an uncomfortable day ahead for each of them. Their kingdom is no longer of this world, LaLiga, but of another, the Champions League. Or is it? Let us hypothesise for a moment: Barça lose today and both Madrid clubs win. It's plausible. Could we then say that the title race is back on? Well, at least there would be some new nervousness at Barça and, even though they'd still have a nice advantage, there would be a threat, something that was unthinkable not long ago. Their game at Anoeta is the match of the day.

Madrid are only really thinking of the Champions League. Zidane will rest Keylor and Modric on a day that they will already be without Benzema and Sergio Ramos. These precautions don't surprise me. In the sixties, in difficult times, Madrid used to use eleven subs, keeping their whole starting line-up fresh. The chances of Zidane winning the league are slim, so the idea of being knocked out of Europe in the quarter final by Wolfsburg is inconceivable. Against Eibar we hope to see Carvajal (Danilo is beyond a joke) and to test the mindset of Isco and James, with the Columbian facing more challenges after his bout of German giggles.

Atlético go to Espanyol in confident mood. That's nothing new. They may have lost in the Camp Nou but they returned with a sense of satisfication in what they accomplished. They will go for the points knowing that they have reserves that fit in to the side unnoticed. Something that Barça can't say. Their "starters" - to coin a basketball term - are much more superior to their back-up. It's interesting: this eleven for Barça appeared just after the Anoeta loss last season, which then triggered a catharsis that led to all of Barça's successes. Luis Enrique doesn't like to remember that though. Everything began then, not with Kevin. Today we will see if it sparks something again.