La Liga: Spain to think about their strategy before Matchday 16

• Xavi Hernandez was happy to see defender Ronald Araujo return from injury.
• San Sebastian should have enough to take three points from their visit to Almeria.
• Mikel Oyarzabal is on his way back to full fitness.

After a gruelling week of Copa del Rey competition, Matchday 16 in La Liga will take place. This will give some teams confidence while giving others some food for thought.

Xavi Hernandez, the coach of Barcelona, was happy to see defender Ronald Araujo return from injury, but it was the only cause for celebration before Sunday’s match against Atletico Madrid.

Midweek, Barca needed additional time to defeat CF Intercity of the third division, and after Araujo was substituted, they appeared vulnerable at the back. Without Robert Lewandowski running the line, they also squandered opportunities, with Ferran Torres and Memphis Depay also failing to deliver.

This is significant because Lewandowski and Jordi Alba, two crucial absentees that weaken Xavi’s starting lineup as Barca seeks to regain their pre-World Cup form, are both suspended for the Atletico game.

With a 2-0 victory in Oviedo, Atletico easily advanced to the Cup’s round of 16, and manager Diego Simeone will have been happy with another all-action performance from Antoine Griezmann, who has grown more assured since the World Cup.

Although Joao Felix‘s future with Atletico looks far from certain, the Premier League is reportedly interested in the talented but inconsistent Portuguese, so Simeone probably won’t be too upset if he leaves. This is especially true given that youngster Pablo Barros is making an increasingly strong case for a regular starting position.

With Mikel Oyarzabal on his way back to full fitness, the side from San Sebastian should have enough to take three points from their visit to Almeria.

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