MADRID // Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has said that Atletico Madrid are the favourites to retain their Spanish Primera Liga title, despite the millions spent by his side and Real Madrid.
Atletico showed their success was not a one-season wonder when they claimed the first domestic trophy of the season in Spain with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Real in the Spanish Super Cup on Friday.
“The favourite for the league is Atletico,” said Enrique, whose side get their Primera Liga campaign underway at home against Elche on Sunday.
“It is not just out of respect for the defending champions. They continue with the same ideas from last season, and they have perfected them, despite changing players.
“I said last season, I saw them as favourites for the league and the [Uefa] Champions League, and they said it was a brave thing to say, but they are the clear favourites.
“Madrid are our eternal rivals and they have strengthened. It will be a very exciting championship.
“We have the desire, having not won anything last season, and no one will beat us for desire.”
Enrique is still hoping to have Neymar available for Elche, despite the Brazilian striker’s ankle sprain, suffered in training on Thursday.
Pedro Rodriguez returned to training after a bout of gastroenteritis and is expected to be fit for selection.
Claudio Bravo, Ivan Rakitic and Jeremy Mathieu could make their competitive debuts, but other big-money signings Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Thomas Vermaelen are injured and Luis Suarez remains suspended for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
“We will see what Neymar’s situation is tomorrow and whether he can play,” Enrique said. “Pedro has trained with the team today, and so we will also make a decision tomorrow. But in principle, I am counting on Neymar and him.”
Neymar was given the all-clear by medical staff at the Camp Nou on Monday after fracturing a vertebra while playing for Brazil in the World Cup quarter-final against Colombia in early July.
Neymar looked lively in Barca’s final friendly match against Mexican outfit Leon on Monday, scoring twice in a 6-0 victory. Youth product Munir El Haddadi also scored twice in that game and Enrique said he had no concerns about calling on him or other members of the squad.
“Those players who are in the list tomorrow will all be prepared to start,” he said.
“Munir, Sandro and the rest will all be ready if they are called up. They can help us, I have no doubt.”
War-torn Libya out of reckoning to host African Cup of Nations
Libya has been removed as host of the 2017 African Cup of Nations as fighting in the country continues to rage, delaying plans to build new stadiums for the 16-team tournament.
The Confederation of African Football is inviting new bids from countries interested in hosting the tournament, it said on Saturday. Potential host countries have until September 30 to send in expressions of interest.
Libya was originally scheduled to host the Nations Cup in 2013, but because of its civil war, which led to the overthrow of long-standing dictator Muammar Gaddafi, it swapped with 2017 host South Africa.
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