Sports Mole anticipates Sunday’s La Liga clash between Alaves and Barcelona, including team news and lineups.
Barcelona, who awarded the La Liga title to Real Madrid on Thursday evening, will complete the 2019-2020 national campaign with a trip to Alaves on Sunday.
The Spanish champions will enter this weekend’s clash after a 2-1 defeat against Osasuna, while the Alaves have scored an impressive 2-1 victory over Real Betis in their last game.
Match preview
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The Alaves seem ready to reach the lowest goal in La Liga since they gained the promotion by returning to the top flight at the end of the 2015-16 campaign, but the fact that they have not been relegated in a difficult season is a great positive.
Under the management of Juan Muniz until the end of the campaign, the Basque club lost 18 of its 37 league games this season to sit in 15th place at the table.
However, El Glorioso cannot be demoted, as he is four points ahead of Leganes in 18th place, with his survival guaranteed thanks to an impressive 2-1 victory at Real Betis on Thursday evening.
The victory in Seville was actually their first success in the Spanish top flight since June 18, while they have lost each of their last six league games against Barca, including a 4-1 defeat at the Camp Nou in December.
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Barca, meanwhile, as mentioned, will enter this game from the back of a 2-1 defeat at home against Osasuna on Thursday night.
As it turned out, the result didn’t mean much because Real Madrid’s 2-1 home success over Villarreal guaranteed it Zinedine ZidaneThe team would win the title with a reserve game.
There is no doubt that it was still a desperately disappointing defeat for the club and Lionel Messi he showed his displeasure in the immediate aftermath.
Relinquishing control of the La Liga title will have seriously damaged the club, but they still have the Champions League to play for this season and will face Napoli in the second leg of their last clash on August 16 on August 8, with the tie delicately balanced courtesy 1-1 draw in Italy in February.
Barca have actually lost points in 10 of the 18 away games this season, while the campaign could end 10 points behind the champions, which would be a big disappointment.
Alaves La Liga form: LLLLDW
Form of the Barcelona Liga: EVENING
Team news
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Alaves will be without the services of Rodrigo Ely because of the red card that the central defender has collected against Betis the last time while Ruben Duarte is Fernando Pacheco they are both definitely out due to injury.
The home team also has concerns about the suitability of Javier Lopez, Ximo Navarro is Ismael Gutierrez, but Martin Aguirregabiria will return from the suspension that saw him miss Thursday.
Lucas Perez is set to return to the attack alongside Joselu, while Aleix Vidal is Tomas Pina it is also expected to return to midfield positions for the home team.
As for Barca, Ousmane Dembele is out again with a long-term hamstring injury while Antoine Griezmann is Samuel Umtiti they also risk losing thigh and knee problems, respectively.
The Catalan giants also have three players suspended in the shape of Gerard Piqué, Ivan Rakitic is Junior Firpoin the sense that there might be a place in central defense for Ronald Araujo.
Araujo, Ansu fati is Riqui Puig this weekend they were prevented from going to Barcelona B in the Segunda Division playoff against Real Bladera’s team B, as they are needed in the first team.
Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba is Luis Suarez could return to the initial XI, with Martin Braithwaite among those who should abandon sideways.
Possible starting line-up for Alaves:
Jimenez; Aguirregabiria, Laguardia, Magallan, Marin; Mendez, Pina, Camarasa, Vidal; Joselu, Perez
Possible starting line-up in Barcelona:
Ter Stegen; Semedo, Araujo, Lenglet, Alba; Puig, Busquets, Roberto; Fati, Suarez, Messi
Let’s say: Alaves 0-2 Barcelona
This game has nothing significant to ride on it, but there is no doubt that Barca will be determined to return to the winning ways following the disappointment of Osasuna’s result. Alaves are capable of causing Quique SetienThe secondary problems, but here we expect an away victory.
