Bale, Messi Return For Crucial Week

[Folami David]

Barcelona and Real Madrid will be boosted by the return of Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale this weekend as both sides prepare for a vital week in their season.
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The two will clash in the first El Clasico of the season at the Camp Nou next weekend and must also negotiate huge Champions League ties in midweek as Real host Juventus and Barca travel to face AC Milan.
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A return to league action comes first though, with Madrid welcoming Malaga to the Santiago Bernabeu, while Barcelona are away to Osasuna.
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The Catalans are sitting pretty atop La Liga, alongside Atletico Madrid, five points clear of Real having won all eight of their league games so far.
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Indeed both Barca and Atletico have the chance to match Real's league record nine wins to start the campaign from the 1968/69 season on Saturday.
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And midfielder Sergio Busquets doesn't want his teammates to lose concentration against a struggling Osasuna side with big games just around the corner.
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"It won't be an easy game for us in Pamplona, and we can't be thinking about Real Madrid yet. One lapse in concentration could allow them to gain ground on us in the table. We cannot afford to get distracted," he said.
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"To break the league record we have to win in Pamplona and beat Real Madrid. If we can do it, we will open up a decent gap in the standings.
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"Records are fine but they don't guarantee that you'll end the season with a trophy. We have a few points advantage over Madrid but we have to keep an eye on Atletico."
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Messi's return after missing the victories over Celtic and Valladolid is not the only good news on the injury front for Gerardo Martino's men as centre- backs Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol could both feature on Saturday.

[Shola Sholaz]

They are both important players for their respective clubs. They've done really well