Barcelona will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome Almeria to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Wednesday.
La Liga will halt for the winter break at the end of this week, with Matchday 18 underway. Barcelona will be in action on Wednesday as they welcome Almeria to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, eager to return to winning ways after failing to emerge victorious in the last three games.
Barcelona began the season well, going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid and Girona atop La Liga. While they went down to Los Blancos, their overall form was solid. But the last few weeks have produced underwhelming performances, with the Blaugrana going the last three games without a win. They have also managed only one victory in their last four league outings, falling nine points behind Girona.
As for Almeria, the Indalicos narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing a point ahead of Real Valladolid. And they did not learn their lessons in 2022/23, as they are rooted to the bottom of La Liga. Vicente Moreno only lasted until September, with Gaizka Garitano arriving in October. But the results have not improved, with the visitors never getting out of the drop zone this term. Let alone that, they are yet to win a league game.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 2-0 win for Barcelona, with the game marking the end of Gerard Pique’s legendary career. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
Xavi Hernandez has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Almeria on Wednesday, the Barcelona manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players.
Frenkie de Jong is the latest absentee, with the Dutchman serving a suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the 2023/24 season. He has joined Marc-Andre ter Stegen (back), Inigo Martinez (muscle injury), Marcos Alonso (back), and Gavi (knee) on the sidelines.
Inaki Pena will continue to deputise for ter Stegen between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. The game might give Xavi the opportunity to make a few rotations, although it will not come in the backline.
Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde will continue as the full-backs, with Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde being the two centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, Fermin Lopez might get a chance to impress in de Jong’s absence.
Lopez will join Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri in the middle of the park, although Oriol Romeu is also in contention to feature. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will spearhead the Barcelona attack against Almeria, with Joao Felix and Raphinha completing the numbers in the offensive department.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pena; Cancelo, Araujo, Kounde, Balde; Fermin Lopez, Gundogan, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix
Almeria
Like his counterpart in the Barcelona dugout, Gaizka Garitano has a new issue to deal with ahead of the trip to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The Almeria manager will be without seven first-team players on Wednesday.
Lucas Robertone is the latest absentee after picking up his fifth yellow card of the 2023/24 season. The 26-year-old has joined Marc Pubill (knee), Gonzalo Melero (unspecified), Marko Milovanovic (knee), Martin Svidersky (ACL), Ibrahima Kone (ankle), and Luis Suarez (foot) on the sidelines.
Almeria will line up in a 3-4-3 formation against Barcelona, with Luis Maximiano taking his spot between the sticks. The visitors will aim to put men behind the ball, hoping to frustrate the struggling Barcelona attackers.
The formation will morph into a 5-4-1 in the defensive phases, with the wing-backs dropping deep to create a back five, which will cut off the passing lanes for Barcelona. Meanwhile, Cesar Montes, Edgar Gonzalez, and Chumi will be the three centre-backs. Alejandro Pozo and Sergio Akieme should be the two wing-backs.
While the duo will threaten with their deliveries from the flanks, they need to be at their vigilant best during the defensive phases. Pozo and Akieme will also protect the two midfielders when Dion Lopy and Iddrisu Baba embark on transitions. Finally, Leo Baptistao will lead the line for Almeria against Barcelona, with Adrian Embarba and Sergio Arribas supporting him in the attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Maximiano; Montes, Gonzalez, Chumi; Pozo, Lopy, Baba, Akieme; Embarba, Baptistao, Arribas
Key Stats
- Barcelona went down 1-0 to Almeria in the most recent meeting in La Liga. The Blaugrana had never faced defeat in the previous 13 league clashes (W11 D2).
- Barcelona have won all seven of their home game against Almeria in La Liga. They also have a 100% home record against Levante (16/16) and Cordoba (9/9).
- Almeria have failed to win their last 20 La Liga games (D7 L13). But they have collected points in two of their most recent three outings, having lost the previous six fixtures.
- Barcelona have ten of their first 17 La Liga fixtures in the 2023/24 season (D5 L2). They have never won the league title on the nine previous occasions when they won ten or fewer games at this stage of the campaign in the 21st century.
- Almeria have managed only one point on their travels this season, losing seven of their eight outings (D1). They also have the worst goal difference on the road (-14).
Player to Watch
Robert Lewandowski
Goals have dried up for Barcelona in the last few weeks, with one player’s struggles, in particular, leaving a sour taste in the mouth. Robert Lewandowski was exceptional for the Blaugrana in the 2022/23 campaign, but he has been nowhere near his best this term.
Age is finally catching up to the Polish striker, who has been a pale shadow of his best self. But facing the worst team in La Liga will give Lewandowski the opportunity to rediscover top form. However, if his struggles continue, then the writing might be on the wall, with the end near for the veteran striker.
Prediction
Barcelona 2-0 Almeria
Barcelona might have struggled to put opponents away in the last few weeks. But that might not be an issue against Almeria, considering the visitors have the worst defensive record in La Liga while boasting of a disastrous goal difference of -22.
The Rojiblancos do not score many goals either, meaning despite Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities, they will not find a way past Inaki Pena. On the other end, Joao Felix and Raphinha should deliver the goods, but Robert Lewandowski’s struggles will continue. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-0 win for Xavi Hernandez and his charges.