LaLiga

Alavés vs FC Barcelona: The super leader seeks a victory to secure the lead before the break

Published:5/10/2024 - 08:34h

Updated:19/10/2024 - 00:46h

Barça are looking to return to winning ways in LaLiga on their visit to Alavés. If the Catalans win in Vitoria, they will secure the lead before the break

FC Barcelona will visit Mendizorroza this Sunday to face Alavés, in the ninth round of LaLiga 2024/25. The ball will start rolling from 4:15 p.m. and will face Hansi Flick's team against one of their favorite 'victims' of recent years.

The culé team will seek to start a new winning streak in the local championship after their fall last weekend at Osasuna, with a victory that allows them to go to the international break as sole leaders with 24 out of 27 possible points.

A priori, the duel in Vitoria is presented as an 'accessible' one for the Blaugranas. Alavés has gone from more to less so far this season, recording two defeats in their last two League games.

Despite this, the Navarrese team has become strong precisely at home, where in three games it has only conceded a draw against Betis (0-0) and defeated Las Palmas (2-0) and Sevilla (2-1).

Will Hansi Flick keep his star eleven?

Against Young Boys in the Champions League, Hansi Flick 'put all the meat on the grill'. Only Ferran Torres snuck into the XI to the detriment of the suspended Eric García, but his performance left much to be desired and, taking into account that the duel in Mendizorroza is the last before the international break, the German could once again line up his starting eleven to ensure the leadership of LaLiga ahead of the FIFA date.

In that sense, the return of the '24' to the midfield could be the only novelty in the Barça starting eleven. Iñaki Peña would continue between the posts due to Szczesny's lack of experience with the first team, while Jules Koundé would get his eleventh consecutive start, with the possibility of going to France being the only Barça player to play every minute of the season.

On the other hand, Ferran Torres would be the one sacrificed by Flick to give García a place in the midfield, returning Raphinha to the left wing, a position in which he has become one of the best Barça players this season. Finally, Ansu Fati could see minutes for the first time in the League after enjoying more than half an hour in the Champions League duel last Tuesday.

History favors Barça

Despite the fact that Alavés has been a 'wall' in Vitoria, the history between both clubs leaves Barça as the clear favorite. In the last 14 meetings between the two teams, the Catalans have managed 12 wins and just 2 draws, so everything points to the Blaugranas managing to take their unbeaten run to fifteenth.

Thus, the Barcelona team hopes to recover from the hard 'stumble' suffered in Pamplona against one of its favourite 'victims' of recent years, taking advantage of the opportunity to go into the international break with a wide advantage over its closest pursuer, Real Madrid, who are in a slump.