Matchday 6 of the 2024-25 La Liga season will feature a potential thriller between the ‘Yellow Submarine’ of Villarreal and the ‘Blaugrana’ of Barcelona.
Villarreal will welcome Barcelona to the atmospheric Ceramica Stadium, with the home side hoping to take inspiration from their last game at the venue, which brought a thrilling 4-3 win over Celta Vigo.
Barca, meanwhile, have shown flashes of awesome potential under manager Hansi Flick, enjoying a strong start to the season which suggests that a title challenge could be on the card – despite the club’s crippling finances and poor off-field organisation.
The German has warned that his side still has much to learn, though there is a feeling of great synergy between the team, the supporters, and the city of Barcelona: “I am very happy for the response of the fans and that is for the team. We are all very happy, also in the coaching staff.
“When we go out for dinner, the people of Barcelona give us a lot of energy. They are very good to us. We have a very good mentality. We all make the team stronger. We are like a family.”
Meanwhile, champions Real Madrid will welcome Espanyol to the Bernabeu Stadium. Los Blancos’ star signing, Kylian Mbappe, endured an underwhelming start to his career in the famous all-white kit but came to life with a brace of goals in a key win over Real Betis before the international break. Now it is expected that the Frenchman will ‘kick on’ for the Madrid heavyweights.
“We have never put pressure on him [Mbappe]… It’s important for him to score,” said manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian added, “We need to be more consistent. Sometimes we get a little off track. The unit has always been and will always be the key to success. The last problem we have is scoring goals.”
Atletico Madrid face a tricky away derby against Rayo Vallecano, with long-serving manager Diego Simeone coming under pressure for what has been a so-so start to the campaign.
On supporters’ frustration, the Argentine noted, “It’s understandable. Fans are passionate, and if I were a supporter, I would feel the same. But I am the coach.”
He added, “We need to improve our finishing as the need for efficiency becomes increasingly apparent in football.
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Broadcast details:
Friday 20 September
- 21:00: Deportivo Alaves v Sevilla – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
Saturday 21 September
- 14:00: Real Valladolid v Real Sociedad – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
- 16:15: Osasuna v Las Palmas – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
- 18:30: Valencia v Girona – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
- 21:00: Real Madrid v Espanyol – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
Sunday 22 September
- 14:00: Getafe v Leganes – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
- 16:15: Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
- 18:30: Villarreal v Barcelona – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
- 21:00: Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3
Monday 23 September
- 21:00: Real Betis v Mallorca – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3