MADRID, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kylian Mbappe makes his home debut for Real Madrid and Nico Williams plays in the city of Barcelona. Here are some things to look out for this weekend in LaLiga.
1. Mbappe makes home debut as Real Madrid seek balance
Kylian Mbappe makes his home debut for Real Madrid on Sunday afternoon when his new side entertain recently promoted Valladolid.
Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw in Mallorca in their opening game of the season, with a performance that highlighted their wealth of attacking talent, but also showed that without the retired Toni Kroos and the injured Eduardo Camavinga, they lack someone to play the ball out from defense.
Fans in the Bernabeu will be looking forward to seeing Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius and Mbappe and Madrid should win, but if Valladolid are brave and pressure them up the field, they could expose Madrid's only apparent weakness.
2. Nico Williams in Barcelona
The good news for FC Barcelona fans is that they will have the chance to see Spain international Nico Williams play in Barcelona on Saturday after their club spent all summer trying to sign him. The bad news is that Nico will be playing for Athletic Club Bilbao after rejecting a move to stay at the club where he has spent all his career.
Barcelona have been allowed by LaLiga to include players such as Inigo Martinez, Ansu Fati and Clement Lenglet in their squad, but the fact they are willing to let Ilkay Gundogan leave for free, want to loan Vitor Roque and still haven't been able to write Dani Olmo into the squad, implies Nico made the right decision in rejecting them.
If he scores on Saturday night, the goal will be doubly sweet for Athletic fans, but hugely embarrassing for Barca president, Joan Laporta.
3. Mutual test for Atletico and Girona in the Metropolitano
Atletico looked decent for a while in their 2-2 draw away to Villarreal on Monday, but defensive errors again cost them two goals and two points.
Diego Simeone has since added Conor Gallagher to the summer arrivals of Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Robin le Normand and all four could play as Atletico take on Girona.
Girona have lost several key players to the side that so impressed last season but came back to take a draw away to Betis last weekend. Now they have to show they can compete with a team they finished above last season.
This is a good measure of where both clubs are.
4. Inexperience is an issue for Real Sociedad
The departure of Mikel Merino to Arsenal means Real Sociedad have lost two Spain internationals over the summer (with Le Normand joining Atletico) and suddenly the team coached by Imanol Alguacil looks to be lacking experience in midfield and defense.
With Haimar Zubeldia currently injured, 27-year-old Brais Mendez is now 'La Real's' veteran in the back two lines, with other players such as Jon Pacheco, Javi Lopez and Jon Aramburu all in their early 20's.
They looked surprisingly vulnerable as they lost at home to Rayo Vallecano last weekend and now a trip to recently promoted Espanyol will be another test of their experience. ■
