6 hours Ago
Barcelona completed their journey in the inaugural League Phase of the Champions League against Atalanta and don’t have to worry about European football until March, so the Blaugrana will now focus on making up ground in the title race and will face Deportivo Alavés at home on Sunday afternoon in their next La Liga match. The Catalans come into this weekend seven points behind the leaders and must do their homework while hoping Real Madrid stumble over the next few weeks, and part of that homework is beating relegation candidates like Alavés at home. Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Sunday’s battle.
Defense Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Barça have an extra day’s rest after playing on Tuesday and have a Copa del Rey game on Thursday against a Valencia team they just scored seven goals against, so we expect Flick to go with a strong team in this one to secure the win. Wojciech Szczesny is now the starting goalkeeper and the hope is that more rhythm can help him get used to the system and get over some of his shaky moments, and he’ll likely have Jules Kounde , Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsí as the usual starters in front of him. We also think Flick will make a change at left-back and start Gerard Martín to give Alejandro Balde a rest.
Midfield Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images Frenkie de Jong is making a serious case to have a permanent role in the side and he’s now in a real competition with Marc Casadó as the starting pivot, but we still think the young Spaniard is Flick’s number one option for now and will play from the beginning on Sunday. Pedri and Gavi will complete the midfield, looking to finish off a week in which both signed new contracts with strong performances to help Barça get all three points. Attack Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images The front three of Lamine Yamal , Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski is expected to start again on Sunday to hopefully wrap up the win early and get some extra minutes of rest in the second half, though Ferran Torres and Fermín López are both ready to step up and start if Flick decides to rest one or two of his big forwards.
Possible XI : Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín; Casadó, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1) How do you think Barcelona should line up against Alavés? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!.
