Three home games in a row
When this international break ends, FC Barcelona’s players will finally be able to focus fully on the club, as there won’t be another break until March. That means almost four months of day-to-day work, during which much of each team’s end-of-season ambitions will be shaped.
Three home games
And Barça's next three matches in the domestic competition will all be at home. This could be decisive in closing the gap on the leaders, from whom they already clawed back two points in the last round, or, ideally, in taking top spot. They won’t be easy games by any means, as the three teams visiting Barcelona one after another will be Athletic Club, Alavés and Atlético Madrid.
Athletic stuttering
The Lions, coached by Ernesto Valverde, will be Barça’s first hurdle, with the match taking place on 22 November at 4.15pm CET. Athletic, who have had an inconsistent start to the season (they sit seventh), broke a run of three straight defeats by beating Oviedo. With threats such as the Williams brothers, Sancet, and a strong centre-back pairing in Vivian and Laporte, they are capable of troubling anyone.
Alavés and Atlético Madrid
After this Liga classic, Barça will travel to London to face Chelsea in the Champions League, but LaLiga action will return to Barcelona with another Basque opponent, Deportivo Alavés, on Saturday the 29th, also at 4.15pm CET. Finally, this run of three home league matches will close with a blockbuster: Barça vs Atlético Madrid. It will be played on Tuesday 2 December at 9pm CET, as one of two fixtures brought forward because of the Super Cup.
Madrid three on the road
Barça will be aiming for a nine-point haul that would give the team a major boost, while keeping a close eye on Real Madrid’s results. Los Blancos currently have three points more than Barça, but their next three matches are all away. Xabi Alonso’s side will travel to Elche, Girona and Athletic Club, three trips where they could easily drop more points. With three home games ahead, Barça will need the support of their fans as they look to put pressure on the league leaders.