TSN is your home for La Liga with a number of intriguing matches this weekend. Looking to steady the ship after a week of turmoil, Real Madrid returns to the Bernabeu to take on Levante. Later, Tani Oluwaseyi, Tajon Buchanan and the rest of Villarreal look to make it three wins on the trot when they visit Real Betis.
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Real Madrid vs. Levante, Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on TSN+
There is no scenario in which a Real Madrid loss to Barcelona will be met with anything but the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments by Madristas, but the 3-2 defeat to Barca in the Supercopa last Sunday proved to be thoroughly consequential. On Monday, Los Blancos moved on from Xabi Alonso after only 31 matches in charge. The club legend left with 22 wins, four draws and five losses.
Though the official language from the club was a “parting of ways,” make no mistake about it - Alonso was fired. Though the manager of Real Madrid can never be too comfortable considering the eternally lofty expectations, this particular dismissal seemed unusually ruthless with Real only four points behind Barca in the battle for the top of the table and their Champions League campaign is still going strong. Alonso was only hired in the spring and his quality as a manager was demonstrated by leading Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga crown in 2024 after an undefeated domestic season. There was a reason why the 44-year-old World Cup winner was one of the most sought-after young managers in Europe.
The world of football never sits still and Real had a Round of 16 Copa del Rey only 48 hours after Alonso’s sacking. Promoted from reserve manager, former Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa was named head coach of the side moving forward. Also a World Cup winner, Arbeloa won five major honours in his seven seasons at the Bernabeu as a player. If anybody would understand the kind of pressure that a Real gaffer was under, it would be a former player.
The pressure became very real for Arbeloa immediately. Los Blancos managed to fall 3-2 to second-division Albacete and crash out of the Copa. It was the second time in three years that Real exited the tournament at this stage, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time this time around.
Still reeling from all of the tumult at the club and rumours of impending player departures with Alonso’s exit, Arbeloa gets his first taste of league action on Saturday with a visit from second-to-bottom Levante. You would think this kind of match would be just what the doctor ordered for Real, but they just dropped a game to a team in 17th in the Segunda Division. However you want to look at it, Arbeloa is expecting an impatient reception for his first match in charge at the Bernabeu.
“I have huge respect for the Bernabeu’s opinion,” Arbeloa said at his prematch press conference. “I understand that fans are hurt and disappointed with us. I’m going to ask them to support their players. In the club’s 123-year history, the great feats, the great triumphs, and the titles have come when the Bernabeu got behind its players.”
The 42-year-old Arbeloa hopes that the home fans can rally their players.
“[Late Real legend] Juanito once said that 90 minutes at the Bernabeu are molto longo, and he didn’t say 90 minutes against Real Madrid players, he said at the Bernabeu," Arbeloa said. “That’s what I’ll ask of our fans. Despite the disappointment they’re feeling, I want them by our side, supporting us, so we can make this season as good as we want it to be.”
He also didn’t shy away from the expectations that have already been heaped upon him as manager of one of world football’s iconic clubs that is currently going through a difficult spell.
“I understand people look for someone to blame,” Arbeloa said. “I’m working to find solutions. Everything that happens on the pitch with my team is my responsibility. When things go wrong, it’s because I haven’t helped my players enough. If they don’t do it, it’s because I didn’t explain it well. I feel very responsible. I feel responsible for that defeat in Albacete, but I still think the same. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
For Saturday’s match, Arbeloa will have Kylian Mbappé at his disposal. The France forward missed the Albacete match with a knee injury. But Rodrygo is out with an undisclosed ailment.
“He won’t be available [Saturday],” Arbeloa said. “He’s recovering from an immense effort. We hope he recovers soon and is ready for Tuesday [against Monaco in the Champions League]. We all know his exceptional quality and the great moments he’s given us. In the last two months, he’s returned to his best. That’s what I expect from him: to recover quickly and be ready to play.”
Real won the reverse fixture back in September by a score of 4-1. Mbappé notched a brace, while Los Blancos also got goals from Vini Jr. and Franco Mastantuono. Cameroon forward Karl Etta Eyong scored the lone goal for the hosts.
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Real Betis vs. Villarreal, Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. PT on TSN+
In a match that will have repercussions for the chase for European football, third-place Villarreal pays a visit to Betis, who currently sit sixth. Currently sitting in a Europa Conference League spot, Betis is ahead of Celta Vigo on goal difference and trails fifth place Espanyol by five points.
The visitors have a game in hand against their closest rivals. Sitting on 41 points, the Yellow Submarine trails Real Madrid by four points and leaders Barca by eight. While they might be on the periphery right now, Villarreal is very much in the title race.
Despite posting a new club record for points in the first half of the season, Villarreal manager Marcelino is in no rush to pat himself on the back.
“This team has done things very well and the points tally we have is tremendous, especially considering we still have a game in hand,” Marcelino said. “Our idea is to keep going the same way. We have 16 points away from home and we know we are going to a very difficult stadium, against a very good team led by an outstanding coach. It motivates us to be up there with the most important teams in the league. We have many wins and only one defeat in recent matches, so we want to continue like this.”
Now in his third season at the helm of the Yellow Submarine, Marcelino says he’s expecting a battle on Saturday against a solid side.
“Betis are a very good team, capable of beating anyone, as they have shown in recent seasons,” Marcelino said. “They built a squad to try to fight for the Champions League. If we don’t maintain that ambition, there is only one path: settling for comfort. Humility is decisive to continue this great work. There is still half of the competition to go. We have the ability and, if we avoid injuries and maintain the right mentality, we can sustain our level of play, because maintaining this points total is very difficult. We cannot lower our competitive level.”
Villarreal is coming off of a 3-1 win over Alaves. The Yellow Submarine got second-half goals from Alberto Moleiro, Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze. Both Buchanan and Oluwaseyi featured in the match. Brampton, Ont.’s Buchanan started and played 66 minutes, registering a shot and completing 13 of 18 pass attempts. Mississauga, Ont.’s Oluwaseyi came on in the 81st for Alphonso Pedraza in a cameo. He registered three touches.
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More La Liga action on TSN
- Mallorca vs. Athletic Club, Saturday at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on TSN+
- Osasuna vs. Real Oviedo, Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET/9:15 a.m. PT on TSN+
- Getafe vs. Valencia, Sunday at 7:45 a.m. ET/4:45 a.m. PT on TSN+
- Atletico vs. Alaves, Sunday at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on TSN4/TSN+
- Celta vs. Rayo Vallecano, Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET/9:15 a.m. PT on TSN+
- Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT on TSN+
