Prediction: Barcelona vs Alaves

Barcelona and Alaves will lock horns with each other in La Liga this weekend. The match between Hansi Flick’s side and Eduardo Coudet’s team will be held at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and is scheduled to kick off at 1pm UK time on Sunday.

Barcelona
Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the world and have a strong team. However, the Blaugrana have recently been going through an indifferent spell in La Liga and need to step up their game.

Hansi Flick’s side are third in the La Liga table at the moment with 42 points from 21 matches. Barcelona are seven points behind leaders and defending champions Real Madrid, who have played 22 games. The Blaugrana finished second in the League Stage table in the UEFA Champions League and have automatically progressed to the Round of 16 stage in Europe’s premier club competition.

Barcelona will head into the La Liga game against Alaves at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Sunday on the back of a 2-2 draw with Atalanta at home in the UEFA Champions League. It came after a 7-1 hammering of Valencia in front of their fans in La Liga which came after a 5-4 victory over Benfica away from home in the UEFA Champions League.

Team News:
Barcelona are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Alaves. Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal for the home team and will have Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde in front of him in defence. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will be the two holding midfielders. Lamine Yamal, Gavi and Raphinha will be the three attacking midfielders. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for the Blaugrana.

Alaves
Alaves are a modest club in Spain who are just happy to be part of the 20-team Spanish top flight. Los blanquiazules finished 10th in the La Liga table last season, and one suspects that they will be happy with a similar position this time around.

Things are tough for Alaves at the moment, though. Eduardo Coudet’s side are third from bottom in the La Liga table with 21 points from 21 matches. El Glorioso are two points behind 17th-placed Espanyol, who have played 22 games.

Alaves will head into the La Liga game against Barcelona away from home at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Sunday on the back of a 1-1 draw with Celta de Vigo at the Mendizorrotza Stadium in the league. It came after a 3-1 victory over Real Betis on the road in the league which came after a 1-0 loss at the hands of Girona in front of their fans in La Liga.

Team News:
Alaves are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Barcelona. Jesus Owono will be in goal for the visiting team. Nahuel Tenaglia, Abdel Abqar, Moussa Diarra and Manu Sanchez will be the four defenders. Ander Guevara and Carlos Benavidez will be two holding midfielders. Carlos Vicente, Jon Guridi and Tomas Conechny will be the three attacking midfielders. Enrique Garcia will lead the line for Alaves.