The eighth round of games in La Liga comes ahead of another international break which could see some clubs move to change their coach after poor starts to the season. Here are some things to look out for in Spain this weekend.
1) Crunch time for Koeman:
Last weekend's 3-0 win at home to Levante looked to have bought Ronald Koeman some time at FC Barcelona, but that proved to be a false dawn as his side was crashed 3-0 away to Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Barca produced a shambolic performance that had club President Joan Laporta meeting with other directors until the early hours of the morning discussing the coach's future.
Koeman's fate may already be sealed but only a win away to Atletico gives him any chance of surviving and with Barca still missing players such as Jordi Alba and Ousmane Dembele, he faces an uphill struggle, especially against an Atletico attack that contains former Barca duo: Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann, who will make his 400th league appearance. One big question is will Koeman risk Ansu Fati in his starting 11 in a game that could decide his future.
2) Suarez and Griezmann out for revenge:
As well as Koeman, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann will also be the focus of attention in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday.
Suarez was forced out of Barcelona at the start of last season as the club desperately tried to lower its wage bill and although his goals were fundamental in Atletico winning last season's title, Suarez explained how much it had hurt him being forced to train on his own as a way of forcing him out of the Camp Nou.
Most would consider Griezmann's time at Barca to be a disappointment, but he still netted 35 goals in 102 appearances and improved with Koeman in the dugout last season.
With the Barca defense (especially Eric Garcia) struggling at the moment, it could be two 'old boys' who certify Koeman's goodbye.
3) Koeman not the only coach on the brink:
Ronald Koeman is not the only coach in danger of losing his job after the weekend with Getafe's Michel Gonzalez and Robert Moreno at Granada in the firing line.
Getafe entertain second-place Real Sociedad after seven defeats from seven games this season and although club president Angel Torres has so far defended Michel (who incidentally was previously sacked by Malaga after starting a season with five losses), another defeat would be too much.
Roberto Moreno has struggled to fill the shoes of Diego Martinez at Granada and despite a draw in the Camp Nou two weeks ago, his credit has quickly run out, with a sector of the fans against him.
Unfortunately for Moreno, Sunday's rivals Sevilla are currently third in LaLiga and clear favorites to take all three points.
4) Casemiro the doubt for Ancelotti:
All of a sudden it looks as if Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has gone from being a key player for Real Madrid to becoming a problem.
Recent seasons have seen Casemiro play a vital role for the team, while also developing into a player who creates and scores vital goals, but it's fair to say that he has not been at his best at the start of the current season.
Perhaps he is paying the price of a busy summer which saw him play in the Copa America, but Casemiro's displays in last weekend's draw at home to Villarreal and the shock defeat to Sheriff Tiraspol in Wednesday, have seen doubts raised over his form and with Toni Kroos fit again and Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavigna offering energetic options, maybe the time as come for Carlo Ancelotti to give him a rest for Sunday's game against Espanyol.
READ ALSO:
1672397318_680.jpg)
