Barcelona are back in action when they host Alavés at Camp Nou, in a match the Catalans will be desperate to win to keep the pressure on Real Madrid.
Hansi Flick’s side are still licking their wounds after a nightmare night saw them get demolished 3–0 by Chelsea last Tuesday. The match at Stamford Bridge highlighted the alarming issues that have plagued Barcelona in the opening months of the season.
Winning a fourth La Liga game on the bounce would go a long way to boosting the confidence and morale of a damaged squad. Barcelona may be far from the level they showed a season ago, but Flick is confident his team can turn things around. A win against Alavés would see them overtake Real Madrid atop the La Liga standings with Xabi Alonso’s side due to take the pitch on Sunday.
Alavés are just four points clear of the relegation zone and travel to the Camp Nou following consecutive defeats. Eduardo Coudet’s side have had an unremarkable start to the campaign and Alavés boast just two wins away at Barcelona since the turn of the century, the last one coming in 2016.
Anything but a comfortable victory on Saturday will only increase the doubts surrounding the Catalans.
Raphinha should get the nod to make his first start since Sept. 25. Following a couple of cameos off the bench, Barcelona desperately need the Brazilian to offer a boost in attack.
But injuries continue to be a problem for Flick’s side. Pedri remains sidelined and now Fermín López is also bound for the infirmary room with a muscular injury that will keep him out of action for two weeks.
Marc Casadó should get the nod to replace Pedri and Dani Olmo, who’s in dire need of a good performance, seems destined to do the same for López. On the bright side, Frenkie de Jong will start after missing last weekend’s Camp Nou return through suspension.
Ronald Araújo added another disastrous performance to his negative big-game résumé against Chelsea while picking up a stomach virus. La Masía youngster Gerard Martín could make his second straight league start at center back, replacing the calamity-laden Uruguayan.
There’s a significant gap in quality that Alavés will try to counter with a cohesive collective performance.
Former Barcelona players Denis Suárez and Carles Aleñá will be extra motivated to help Alavés pull off the upset against the reigning champions. Ex-Real Madrid striker Mariano Díaz could also try to replicate his past heroics against Barça, though, he’ll likely start from the bench.
Coudet has stuck with a very similar staring XI over the past month and he’s poised to continue that trend. Regardless of the lineup, goalkeeper Antonio Sivera should expect a busy night against Barça’s powerful attack.
