Lionel Messi has another scoring record in sight when Barcelona visit Almeria on Saturday looking to bounce back from consecutive losses that have cost them the La Liga lead.
Messi scored his 70th and 71st goals in the Champions League in a 2-0 win at Ajax on Wednesday to equal Raul’s all-time record in Europe’s top-tier club competition.
The Argentina forward can now match the La Liga scoring milestone as he is just one goal short of Telmo Zarra’s mark of 251, a record the Athletic Bilbao great established in 1955.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, will try to extend his club-record run of scoring in eight straight league appearances when the leaders host crosstown minnows Rayo Vallecano.
Madrid lead Valencia and Atletico Madrid by one point, with Barcelona and Sevilla another point behind.
Here are some things to know about round 11 of La Liga:
Bale back
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been facing questions about whether Gareth Bale, the winger Madrid bought for a world-record €100 million (Dh460.1m) last season, has a place in his starting 11.
While Bale nursed a muscle injury, Madrid didn’t skip a beat and won all five games, including a 3-1 victory over Barcelona.
And with the Santiago Bernabeu crowd chanting the name of midfielder Isco and thrilled with James Rodriguez, some have questioned whether Bale shouldn’t be left on the bench.
Ancelotti is not having any of it and said Bale will start against Rayo after coming on as a substitute against Liverpool.
“I see Bale is fine,” Ancelotti said. “I didn’t start him because he is just back from injury. He felt fine. He will start on Saturday.”
Suarez searching
While Messi dazzled in Amsterdam with his goals and incisive playmaking, new teammate Luis Suarez was left scoreless against his former club to remain without a goal in three games since returning from his four-month biting ban.
Messi is not worried and expects the goals to come for Suarez once he settles in and learns Barcelona’s possession-based style.
“We are happy Luis is with us and he is adapting to our philosophy,” Messi said. “This was his third game and we expect more from him given the class of striker he is.”
Suarez will have a good opportunity to get on track against an Almeria team that have lost three straight and are winless in all five games played at their Estadio Juegos Mediterraneos this season.
Winning Valencia
Valencia have had a remarkable turnaround under new Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo and new owner Peter Lim, the Singaporean investor.
The team look like they are halting years of decline after losing only once in the first 10 rounds.
Valencia are in second place before hosting struggling Athletic Bilbao. The Basques have won two straight in the league, but are in 12th place and coming off a 2-0 loss to FC Porto on Wednesday that ended their chances of advancing in the Champions League.
Trouble at Anoeta
Atletico visit a Real Sociedad side that are still trying to find a replacement for sacked coach Jagoba Arrasate.
Sociedad let Arrasate go with the team having won just once in 10 rounds. The club president said former Manchester United manager David Moyes is one of four candidates to take over.
Antoine Griezmann will make his return to San Sebastian, where he played for five seasons before transferring to the defending champions in the off-season.
Steady Sevilla
Sevilla have won four straight home games in the league and welcome relegation-threatened Levante.
Coach Unai Emery has melded new arrivals Denis Suarez, Aleix Vidal and Gerard Deulofeu into a side led by Colombia striker Carlos Bacca to produce one of the league’s most versatile attacks.
Levante, meanwhile, are tied with Granada for the fewest goals scored in La Liga with just six.
Sevilla host Standard Liege in the Europa League on Thursday.
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