Barcelona host Almeria in La Liga this weekend and they will be looking to extend their fine run of form in the domestic competitions with a win at Camp Nou.
The Catalan giants are coming into this game on the back of three consecutive league wins and they will be confident of grinding out another positive result.
Barcelona are currently one point adrift of league leaders Real Madrid in second place and they can’t afford any slipups here. The home fans will be expecting a routine victory from their side.
On the other hand, Almeria are coming into this game on the back of three defeats and three wins from their last six league outings. They have been quite inconsistent this season and it remains to be seen which version of Almeria turns up at Camp Nou. They are certainly no pushovers on their day and the away support can only hope for a professional performance from the players here.
Team News and Tactics
Barcelona
The home side will be without the services of a number of their first-team players. Ronald Araujo and Memphis Depay are out with muscle problems, while Franck Kessie has a thigh injury. Sergio Roberto misses out with a shoulder injury.
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Despite that, Xavi Hernandez has enough quality at his disposal to grind out all three points here.
Barcelona are likely to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation with Marc Andre Ter Stegen in goal. Hector Bellerin should replace the injured Roberto as the right back here. Jules Kounde will partner Gerard Pique at the back and Alejandro Balde will start as the left back.
In the midfield, the experienced Sergio Busquets will be flanked by youngsters Gavi and Pedri. The two youngsters will look to add craft and composure in the middle, while Busquets will disrupt the Almeria play and win the ball back for his side.
Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha should start as the wide forwards in a front three and Robert Lewandowski will lead the line. Raphinha has been criticised for his performances lately and this is an opportunity for him to bounce back strongly.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Bellerin, Kounde, Pique, Balde; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembele
Almeria
The away side will be without two first-team players here. Ivan Martos and Juanjo Nieto will be unavailable for Almeria due to knee injuries.
The visitors are likely to start in a 4-3-3-1 setup and they will look to defend deep with the midfield pivot shielding the back four. Almeria will hope to hit Barcelona on the counter here.
Fernando Martinez will start in goal for the visitors. Houboulang Mendes and Sergio Akieme will be deployed as the full-backs here. They will look to protect the centre-backs and offer an outlet going forward.
Rodrigo Ely and Srdjan Babic will start as the centre-backs here and they will need to be careful against Lewandowski.
Gonzalo Melero and Cesar De la Hoz will be the two midfielders in a pivot and their performance here could decide the game for their side.
Leo Baptistao and Adrian Embarba will start out wide and they will look to hurt Barcelona during traditions with their pace and flair. Lucas Robertone will operate as the number ten. He will look to join up with the striker and drop deep to crowd out the midfield as well.
El Bilal Toure will lead the line for Almeria.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Mendes, Ely, Babic, Akieme; Melero, Hoz; Baptistao, Robertone, Embarba; Toure
Key Stats
- Barcelona have won their last 8 matches against Almeria in all competitions.
- Barcelona have kept a clean sheet in their last 6 home matches (LaLiga).
- Barcelona have won 10 of their last 11 matches (LaLiga).
- Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in their last 9 matches against Almeria in all competitions.
- Almeria have lost their last 5 away matches (LaLiga).
- Almeria have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 away matches (LaLiga).
Player to watch
Robert Lewandowski
The Polish international striker has six goals and two assists in his last six outings and he is our man to watch. Almeria are vulnerable at the back and there is no one better to expose their defensive frailties. Lewandowski could punish them with his movement, link-up play and finishing here.
Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Almeria
Almeria will look to put up a fight here but they are well out of their depth. Barcelona will be motivated to grind out a win here and they have enough quality to emerge with all three points from this one.