Barcelona will be a relieved side after navigating through a series of close calls and close shaves as they edged out Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey to advance to the finals. They were pressed by Atletico till the final whistle and Rojo Blancos will feel hard done by with a couple of calls by the referee. But both the teams will look to move on now and focus on the league where they have to keep getting the results to achieve different targets of their own.
Barcelona have a trip to Alaves next, the same team whom they will face in the finals of the Copa Del Rey. While on paper, the tie might look to be a lopsided one but Alaves have already shocked the Nou Camp outfit at the latter’s home and will be buzzing with confidence when they welcome Messi and Co.
Los Babazorros are coming off a 4-2 victory over bottom three squad Sporting Gijon on the road at the El Molinon Stadium last Sunday to snap a four-game winless slide. For Barcelona, this is a must-win match if they are to stay in contention for the title and hope to capitalise in the event that Real Madrid slip up. They are a point off the leaders but Real have a 2-game advantage over their bitter rivals.
PREDICTED BARCELONA LINE-UP VS ALAVES (4-3-3)
DEFENCE
Ter Stegen will be in goal and he will know he has to keep performing with Cillessen giving a good account of himself in the cup tie. On the right-hand side, Seri Roberto will line-up and he will look to cut down on his mistakes if he is to keep Vidal out of the team. Pique will hope for a better display this time around after an uneven performance against Atletico. He will be partnered by Umtiti whose last-ditch block saved Barcelona the blushes in the dying embers of the game. Jordi Alba will look to be his ultra-adventurous self at left-back.
MIDFIELD
Sergio Busquets is likely to start the game after coming on from the bench against Atletico. He will sit in the holding role. Andre Gomes might line-up in a slightly advanced area with Iniesta likely to get a starting berth.
ATTACK
Neymar will line up on the left side with Messi on the opposite flank. Luis Suarez will look to pip his own teammate in the goal scoring department with both Messi and Suarez on 16 goals and 6 assists each.
