Barcelona were dismantled and taken apart by PSG in one of their worst nights in European football and there is a concern on how the Nou Camp outfit will be recovering from the hiding they got in the French capital. With Real Madrid ahead by 4 points and having a game in hand in the League, things are indeed looking extremely bleak for the Blaugrana. And especially for Luis Enrique who will have a lot to answer if they finish the season in the same vein. They will back themselves to get a win over Alaves in the Copa Del Rey final but apart from that, there doesn’t seem to be anything else of note.
And with Real Madrid not looking like losing any matches anytime soon, it is looking all too leak for the Blaugrana. And with Gareth Bale’s successful return from injury coming at such a crucial juncture for Los Blancos, it is now up to Barcelona to come up with something extraordinary now. Leganes are the lowest scorers in La Liga with only 15 goals in 22 outings and currently sit two points and one place clear of the relegation places and a win over them should be a formality.
TRIVIA
- Barcelona won 5-1 in the very first meeting between the two sides in La Liga, the first game of this season in which the three MSN members scored.
- Leganes will play at Camp Nou for the first time. Only two sides have won their very first La Liga game there: Malaga in 1999 (2-1) and Villarreal in 1998 (3-1).
- Lionel Messi has scored against 33 out of the 35 sides he has faced in La Liga at Camp Nou. Only Xerez and Hercules managed to shut the Argentine out.
- Neymar is the player with the highest average of chances created per game (3.06 per game), most dribbles completed (five per game) and most touches in the opposition box (8.33 per game) in La Liga this season.
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UPS
BARCELONA (4-3-3)
Aleix Vidal is sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a horrific ankle injury in last weekend’s win away to Eibar. The former Sevilla right-back is likely to be out for five months and Barca are allowed to sign a replacement if they so decide.
Javier Mascherano is also set to be out, while Arda Turan is doubtful after missing the trip to Paris. However, Neymar is fit again following a knock on Tuesday. Sergio Busquets is banned for the game.
Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Iniesta, Rakitic, Gomes; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
LEGANES (4-2-3-1)
The Madrid-based club will be without Robert Ibanez, Mamadou Kone, Jon Ander Serantes, David Timor and Ruben Perez on Sunday.
Herrerin; Bustinza, Mantovani, Insua, Rico; Gabriel, Martin; Szymanowski, Bueno, Garcia; Guerrero
BETTING ODDS
BARCELONA- 1/14
DRAW- 11/1
LEGANES- 28/1
