After on Saturday, Barcelona can shut the hole within the La Liga title race with victory in opposition to Alaves. Nevertheless, they’ll to beat their if they’re to shut the hole to 4 factors, which can be essential provided that the highest two face one another on the Santiago Bernabeu subsequent weekend.
Hansi Flick rested gamers for the midweek draw in opposition to Atalanta, however they’ll return to the beginning line-up in opposition to Alaves. As per , Pau Cubarsi and Marc Casado are to be recalled, with Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong dropping to the bench consequently. Regardless of plenty of errors in latest weeks, Wojciech Szczesny will retain his place in targets, throughout his pre-match press convention.
Robert Lewandowski scored a 25-minute hat-trick within the reverse fixture on the Mendizorroza, and he’s anticipated to stay because the beginning striker for this one, regardless of the latest good type of Ferran Torres, who scored in final weekend’s 7-1 rout of Valencia.
Alaves are off the again of a 1-1 draw in opposition to Celta Vigo final Monday, and they are going to be eyeing up a shock consequence on the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Antonio Sivera’s continued absence signifies that Jesus Owono will stay in targets, whereas the suspended Abdelkabir Abqar may also miss out – his substitute is anticipated to be Adrian Pica. Additional modifications would see Santiago Miurino, on mortgage from Atletico Madrid, and ex-Actual Madrid midfielder Antonio Blanco coming into the aspect instead of Carlos Protesoni and Tomas Conechny.
It ought to be a really attention-grabbing match on Sunday afternoon. Barcelona can be agency favourites, and they are going to be spurred on by Actual Madrid’s defeat, which supplies them a gap to convey the highest spot in La Liga again into view. Nevertheless, Alaves are greater than able to inflicting issues, particularly with in-form striker Kike Garcia.
