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| FC Barcelona vs Alaves Match Preview – Image: FCB |
FC Barcelona welcome newcomers Deportivo Alaves to the Camp Nou for their third Liga game of the season as they look to make it three wins from three in their campaign to defend the title.
Barça started their La Liga defence quite well, getting 6 points out of a possible six, now the next hurdle is to make it 9 points from 9 when they take on Alaves on Saturday (today), a team that has shown great character and enthusiasm so far this campaign after returning to the Spanish top flight ten years after their last appearance. They shocked many by picking up a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first game and then went on to tie against Sporting Gijon 0-0, it won’t be an easy game.
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona have a lot of doubts in their squad ahead of the game. Lionel Messi‘s 100% fitness isn’t certain but coach Luis Enrique confirmed in his press conference yesterday that the star is ready to play which is a huge boost.
Also, Andre Gomes and Andres Iniesta are still a doubt for the game but it is more likely than unlikely that we’ll see both players in the match squad. Defender Jeremy Mathieu is also set to return to the squad after recovering from an injury he picked up in the Spanish Super Cup.
The sad news is the unavailability of first choice goalkeeper Marc Andre
Ter Stegen,
the German goalkeeper picked up a muscle injury in training and won’t be available for the game which means new signing
Jasper Cillessen is likely to make his Barcelona debut.
Neymar is set to play in his first game for the club this season after more than 100 days as he returned from international duty, it is still uncertain if Luis Suarez will start as he returned to training late, making it likely that new signing Paco Alcacer might just make his Barcelona debut as a starter.
There are no major injury problems for Alaves.
FC BARCELONA VS ALAVES – LA LIGA
Date: Saturday, 10 September, 2016
Time: 8:30pm CET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee: Mario Melero Lopez
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Barcelona 3-1 Alaves
Alaves 0-3 Barcelona
Barcelona 3-2 Alaves
Alaves 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona 2-0 Alaves
FORM GUIDE
FC Barcelona: WWWW
Deportivo Alaves: DD
Possible Barcelona Lineup: Jasper Cillessen; Aleix Vidal, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Paco Alcacer, Neymar.
Possible Alaves Lineup: Pacheco; Kiko, Alexis, Laguardia, Hernandez; Garcia, Llorente; Torres, Camarasa, Ibai; Deyverson.
BarcaLens Prediction: Despite Alaves being inspired, I see Barça winning this although fatigue due to international games might play in the early stages, Barça will triumph – Barcelona 4-0 Alaves.