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Preview: Barcelona return to league action after Chelsea humbling

Preview: Barcelona return to league action after Chelsea humbling

Shiriki

And Barcelona do so against Deportivo Alavés, a side they are unbeaten against in their last 16 meetings.

By Filip Mishov

Barcelona looking to mount pressure on Real Madrid

Hansi Flick endured a disappointing Tuesday night by the touchline at Stamford Bridge, as Barça suffered a damning defeat (3-0) to Chelsea in the Champions League, ending an impressive 53-match scoring streak across all competitions that stretched back to December last year. The Spanish champions lacked both energy and creativity against the FIFA Club World Cup champions, but the German coach promised “a different Barcelona” in the coming weeks, and the upcoming match against Alavés at Camp Nou offers a first chance of redemption.

Eduardo Coudet‘s Alavés squad are on a two-match losing run having failed to find the back of the net in both of those games, with the Basque side currently having the third lowest-scoring attack in Spain’s top tier, with only 11 goals scored. At the other end, however, only Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have conceded less goals (12) than them, which speaks volumes about their defensive solidity.

El Glorioso’s last win at Camp Nou dates back to 2016 and since then, they have only managed a single draw (back in 2021).

Key players

Eric García has established as one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted lieutenants this season and the defender’s versatility is proving key, given Barça’s injury troubles both in defence and midfield.

The energetic Spaniard has started in all but three matches across all competitions this campaign and is averaging a FotMob rating of 7.40 in LaLiga, the highest of any defender in the squad. Subsequently, news that contract negotiations around a new deal have started does not come as a surprise, given his growing importance.

Former Barça academy player, Carles Alena is the main source of creativity at Alavés with the 27-year-old being the top assist maker (3) as well as one of the leading chance creators (12). Similarly to García, Alena’s ability to play both through the middle and on the wings gives Coudet options on how to use the La Masia graduate, once hailed as a potential successor to Andrés Iniesta or Xavi.

Team news

It is not all doom and gloom for Barcelona with Pedri back in first-team training after a month out on the sidelines and Raphinha edging closer to being ready to start rather than come off the bench. With that being said, the captain Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi remain the only absentees in the squad, as Marcus Rashford also returned against the Blues after recovering from fever.

Eduardo Coudet enjoys a clean bill of health with almost a full squad to pick from, barring Serbian centre-back, Nikola Maras, who has a long-term injury.

Prediction

We fully expect Barça to come out on top against Alavés, and to move back above Madrid to the top of the table (with Madrid not playing until Sunday), but do not expect goals galore at Camp Nou with the visitors’ defence among the best in the league.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Barcelona return to league action after Chelsea humbling

And Barcelona do so against Deportivo Alavés, a side they are unbeaten against in their last 16 meetings.

By Filip Mishov

Barcelona looking to mount pressure on Real Madrid

Hansi Flick endured a disappointing Tuesday night by the touchline at Stamford Bridge, as Barça suffered a damning defeat (3-0) to Chelsea in the Champions League, ending an impressive 53-match scoring streak across all competitions that stretched back to December last year. The Spanish champions lacked both energy and creativity against the FIFA Club World Cup champions, but the German coach promised “a different Barcelona” in the coming weeks, and the upcoming match against Alavés at Camp Nou offers a first chance of redemption.

Eduardo Coudet‘s Alavés squad are on a two-match losing run having failed to find the back of the net in both of those games, with the Basque side currently having the third lowest-scoring attack in Spain’s top tier, with only 11 goals scored. At the other end, however, only Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have conceded less goals (12) than them, which speaks volumes about their defensive solidity.

El Glorioso’s last win at Camp Nou dates back to 2016 and since then, they have only managed a single draw (back in 2021).

Key players

Eric García has established as one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted lieutenants this season and the defender’s versatility is proving key, given Barça’s injury troubles both in defence and midfield.

The energetic Spaniard has started in all but three matches across all competitions this campaign and is averaging a FotMob rating of 7.40 in LaLiga, the highest of any defender in the squad. Subsequently, news that contract negotiations around a new deal have started does not come as a surprise, given his growing importance.

Former Barça academy player, Carles Alena is the main source of creativity at Alavés with the 27-year-old being the top assist maker (3) as well as one of the leading chance creators (12). Similarly to García, Alena’s ability to play both through the middle and on the wings gives Coudet options on how to use the La Masia graduate, once hailed as a potential successor to Andrés Iniesta or Xavi.

Team news

It is not all doom and gloom for Barcelona with Pedri back in first-team training after a month out on the sidelines and Raphinha edging closer to being ready to start rather than come off the bench. With that being said, the captain Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi remain the only absentees in the squad, as Marcus Rashford also returned against the Blues after recovering from fever.

Eduardo Coudet enjoys a clean bill of health with almost a full squad to pick from, barring Serbian centre-back, Nikola Maras, who has a long-term injury.

Prediction

We fully expect Barça to come out on top against Alavés, and to move back above Madrid to the top of the table (with Madrid not playing until Sunday), but do not expect goals galore at Camp Nou with the visitors’ defence among the best in the league.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.