Barcelona’s difficult season continues with a trip to face mid-table Alaves who have enjoyed a good patch of form in recent weeks.
Xavi Hernandez’s side are ten points behind Real Madrid in La Liga heading into the weekend and the coach’s decision to step down at the end of the season feels like an early admission that they won’t be able to reel their rivals in.
He might be right, as Barca have a lot of players out injured. Ferran Torres is now on the list as an issue from the 1-0 win over Osasuna in midweek will see him miss around five weeks, and Xavi will have to come up with a replacement.
Here’s the team Xavi is expected to pick when Barca travel to Osasuna on Saturday afternoon.
GK: Inaki Pena – The clean sheet last time out against Osasuna will have been very welcome considering he shipped five against Villarreal in the game before. Another shutout here would be a job well done for Pena.
RB: Jules Kounde – The Frenchman continues at right-back after the Osasuna game. There is a lot to be said for a defender who is just at home on the flank as he is in the middle.
CB: Ronald Araujo – It must give Araujo confidence to have a solid player like Kounde on the outside of him, who won’t be as gung-ho in attack as most right-backs.
CB: Andreas Christensen – It was the young Pau Cubarsi who was given a start against Osasuna, but Christensen is expected to come back in for this tough-looking match.
LB: Joao Cancelo – With both Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso out, Cancelo will be the left-back for the foreseeable future. His versatility has proved to be very important this season.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – The German midfielder doesn’t seem to make many headlines but his four goals and four assists in La Liga so far is a very respectable return. He is a player Xavi trusts each week now.
CM: Pedri – Another trusted player for Xavi, Pedri will continue to dictate play in the middle and provide a level of energy that is almost contagious.
CM: Frenkie de Jong – This is certainly the strongest area of the current Barca squad and De Jong completes what seems to be Xavi’s favoured midfield three when all are fit.
RW: Lamine Yamal – Can you believe he’s still only 16 years old? He will be until the summer, too. Yamal is an important part of this team and will surely start against Alaves.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – The winner may have come from Vitor Roque off the bench against Osasuna, but Robert Lewandowski is expected to keep his starting spot here despite poor recent form.
LW: Fermin Lopez – With Torres now injured along with Joao Felix and Raphinha, Lopez is expected to start on the left wing. He will want to build on the one league goal he has this season.
