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The Euro Preview: Barca look to dominate in the new year, Atleti and Sevilla do battle

By Clemente Lisi

BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 22: Lionel Messi of Barcelona is challenged by Nestor Araujo and Hugo Mallo of Celta Vigo during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on December 22, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 22: Lionel Messi of Barcelona is challenged by Nestor Araujo and Hugo Mallo of Celta Vigo during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on December 22, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /
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While most of Europe’s major leagues are in the midst of their winter break, the Spanish game is in full swing as Barcelona look to dominate La Liga in 2019.

La Liga

The Spanish top flight returns from the Christmas break on Friday when Levante host Girona and Leganes travel to Barcelona to take on Espnayol.

The meat of matchday 18 will be played over the weekend when league leaders Barcelona are on the road Sunday at Getafe, while title chasers Sevilla host Atletico Madrid at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium the same day.

Barcelona currently have 37 points, three more than second-place Atletico. Sevilla, currently in third, have 32 points.

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Fourth-place Real Madrid, recent winners of the FIFA Club World Cup, play at home Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu against struggling Real Sociedad.

With 15 goals and 10 assists, Lionel Messi leads the league in scoring and poised to help Barca capture the title this season. Despite it being a close race, Messi’s partnership with Luis Suarez, who is second in scoring on the charts with 11 goals and four assists, make the Catalan giants tough to beat.

In an interview over the holiday break with Spanish sports daily Marca, Messi talked tactics and said Barcelona conceding more goals this season compared to last isn’t a problem.

“This year we are playing 4-3-3 again,” he said. “Last year, we had two lines of four and left very little space and it was more difficult to create goals. Now, with the 4-3-3 we have more possession and play better, but we are more disarmed in defense and opposition teams find the gaps. In recent games we have improved defensively and hopefully that improves.”

Asked about the competitive title race, Messi, in the same interview, noted: “Nowadays it’s difficult to win against anyone and the league is very close and hard to win.”

Segunda Division

Spain’s competitive second division also resumes this weekend with first-place Granada taking on second-place Albacete. The Friday match will determine whether Granada, currently atop the table with a one-point edge over Albacete, can maintain first place.

Granda made headlines for other reasons last month after it was revealed that the Andalusian club allegedly concealed cameras in smoke detectors and alarms in the changing rooms at their home grounds of Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes. It is unknown why cameras may have been placed inside the venue.

The case remains under investigation and no arrests have been reported.

Also in the race for promotion, third-place Malaga plays at home Sunday against 21st-place Reus. Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna, who are in fourth, play host 14th-place Lugo that same day.

Primeira Liga

On the other side of the Iberian peninsula, Portugal’s top flight returns after the Christmas break with several key matches.

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In a league where goals are often plenty and the best domestic players go abroad, Portugal’s first division is led by perennial power Porto. The defending league champions, currently in first place and led by the scoring exploits of Mali striker Moussa Marega, play Monday against Nacional.

Title contenders Benfica, meanwhile, host Rio Ave on Sunday, while Sporting Lisbon are on the road the following day against relegation candidates Tondela.

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