Minnow Alaves upset FC Barcelona 2-1

Not even Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Andres Iniesta going on for the last half hour could turn around a result that left Real Madrid alone at the top of the table after three rounds.

However, Enrique denied this was the case, saying: ‘We talk after every game to correct things and to reinforce other aspects but what happens in those meetings is only important for the players and staff.

Neymar is another player who will be key to Barca’s season, and Enrique acknowledged that the Brazilian “is keen to take part” against Alaves.

Newly-promoted team Alaves delivered a shocking loss to heavy favorite FC Barcelona giving them the first defeat in La Liga’s 2016/17 Season right at the heart of Camp Nou.

Enrique appeared to have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League home group game against Celtic, making seven changes to the team that won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao before the global break.

Explaining his changes for the Alaves match, Enrique said: “We tried to include those who were fresher, most of the rotations were due to the circumstances surrounding us”.

We lacked fluency and precision and we were fragile in defence.

“Conceding the second goal after an error of ours was a big blow for the players but on Tuesday we’re playing the Champions League and that’s another story”.

Needing to jump-start its Spanish league title challenge, Atletico Madrid turned to Antoine Griezmann for its first win of the season on Saturday.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is predicted to replace Jasper Cillessen between the sticks should he pass a fitness test, while the Barcelona back-line will be changed in full. And he got on to the score sheet just 6 minutes into the game to make it 1-0.

And he lauded the impact made by Rodgers in his short time in charge at Celtic in leading the Scottish champions back into the Champions League for the first time in three years.

“Alaves have come into the league recently and been very effective, and they made it hard for us”.

The Catalan club have won four of the previous 11 Champions League titles meaning Celtic’s return to Europe’s top club competition could hardly be more hard. “It’s clear we were very slow and uninspired”, the Coach said after the game.

The Dutch worldwide said: “I am ready to play against Celtic”.

“I think that sometimes the best players in the world will always find a space”.

“We’ve seen that in Celtic”.