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| Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Match Preview |
After breaking a curse that stood for almost 10 years with a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad at the Anoeta last week, Barcelona host the San Sebastian outfit at the Camp Nou on Thursday night hoping to finish the job and qualify for the semifinal of the 2016/2017 Copa del Rey tournament.
Barcelona had failed to pick up a win at the Anoeta stadium since 2007 but broke the jinx through a Neymar goal in the first leg, and they take that 1-0 advantage into the second leg as they aim to reach the semifinal in order to keep their hopes of winning a third successive Cup trophy alive.
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona go into the game missing three players through injury, all midfielders as the likes of Captain Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Rafinha Alcántara are still carrying one knock or the other. Aside from these absentees, Coach Luis Enrique excluded Marc-André Ter Stegen from the Barça squad of 18 players to face Eusebio’s men meaning Jasper Cillessen is set to start in between the sticks once again after keeping a clean sheet in the first leg.
The visitors have also announced their squad for the game and will be without the injured Joseba Zaldua and David Concha.
BARÇA VS REAL SOCIEDAD
Date: Thursday, 26 January, 2017
Time: 9:15pm CET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona
Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona
Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona
Barcelona 4-0 Real Sociedad
Barcelona 2-0 Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona: WLDWWWW
Real Sociedad: DWLDWLW
Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Jasper Cillessen; Aleix Vidal, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Digne; Ivan Rakitic, André Gomes, Denis Suárez; Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar
Predicted Real Sociedad Lineup: Geronimo Rulli; Litri, Elustondo, Inigo Martinez, Berchiche; Xabi Prieto, Asier Illarramendi, Zurutuza; Juanmi, Willian Jose, Carlos Vela
BarcaLens Prediction: Barcelona have won all of their last 19 home games against Real Sociedad, and most have been comfortable.. This is very unlikely to end differently from the others – Barcelona 3-0 Real Sociedad.