Barcelona will be playing host to a 16th placed Deportivo Alaves side on Matchday 23 of the Primera Division. The Cules are placed third in the points table and will be eying a chance to bounce back to winning ways from their defeat against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey Semi-Final.
Ronald Koeman will be without several first-team regulars for the match including the likes of Gerard Pique and Philippe Coutinho. The likes of Martin Braithwaite, Ansu Fati, Sergino Dest, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Miralem Pjanic are also all ruled out of the match with their respective injuries.
Here’s how the Cules are expected to take to the field on Saturday evening at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona.
Barcelona Predicted Line Up Against Alaves
Defence
Ter Stegen will take command in goal after a spell of poor performances in recent matches. The German goalie has conceded as many as seven goals in his last three outings. The goalie alone can not be blamed for those goals, but Ter Stegen is not the sort of goalie who concedes so many goals.
Junior Firpo will start at the right-back position. The full-back seemed a bit slow to the game’s pace against Sevilla and will have to show more zeal to impress Ronald Koeman. Oscar Mingueza will start at the centre back position. Clement Lengelt will replace Samuel Umtiti in defence who had a torrid evening at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Jordi Alba will be the left-back for Saturday evening.
Midfield
Frenkie de Jong will start on the right-hand side of midfield. The Dutchman was creative and vibrant in the attacking half of the field and will want to continue the form he has garnered in the past few games. Sergio Busquets will start in midfield without a doubt. The veteran Spaniard is the pivotal point of the side and will control things like always from the centre of the pitch.
Pedri will start on the left-hand side of Busquets. The young Spanish midfielder has shown great chemistry with Lionel Messi this season, and a similar performance will be expected out of him against Alaves.
Attack
Barcelona’s attacking trident of Griezmann, Messi and Dembele failed to deliver the goods against Sevilla. Nevertheless, Koeman is expected to stick to the trio with the current injury situation at the club leaving only Fransisco Trincao on the bench. Messi will want to inspire the side with his spectacular performances as he has done in the past.
Griezmann too will want to be more involved with play following a poor outing in Seville. The Frenchman has been in good goal-scoring form since the turn of the year, and it will be interesting to see his approach at the Camp Nou this weekend.