Barça will seek to get back on track to 2nd place in LaLiga EA Sports against a relegated Almería

Published:15/05/2024 - 21:41h

Updated:15/05/2024 - 21:46h

FC Barcelona, with the expectation of making several rotations in its lineup, will face UD Almería in a special duel, since it will be Xavi Hernández's 100th as a coach in LaLiga. If they win, Barça could increase the gap with Girona to four points, consolidating themselves in second place in the standings

The FC Barcelona will look for to keep his recently established series of positive results in LaLiga EA Sports this Thursday 16 May. In this occasion, the ones of Xavi Hernández will have to visit to the UD Almería in the Power Horse Stadium (21:30 hours, 9:30 PM CEST), in a valid commitment by the day 36 of the local tournament. The combined Barcelona will try to achieve a victory that strengthen them in the second square of the table clasificatoria, since with the fall of the Girona in front of the Villarreal CF the past Tuesday (0-1), the Barcelonan cast could open a brecha of four points in regard to the gerundenses, his nearer perseguidores, with two remaining days for the end of the championship suspender belt.

How they arrive both teams to this clash?

In front it will be a combined 'indálico' that arrives to this commitment like descended and being the colista of the competition, with hardly 17 points. The Andalusians grieve have added two victories, 11 ties and 22 defeats until the moment. In the past day, did not have a good exert in his visit to Benito Vilamarín, where the Real Betis imposed 3-2 with annotations of Pablo Fornals, Isco Alarcón and Ayoze Pérez, whereas Léo Baptistãor and Luka Romero invoiceed the targets for the visitors.

In contrast, the FC Barcelona comes to win home in front of the Real Sociedad with a solid 2-0, thanks to the so many of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. At present, they find in the second position of the table, with 23 victories, seven ties and five defeats, accumulating a total of 76 points. The culés have ensured, for the moment, a square in the Supercopa of Spain 2025, where already are classified the Real Madrid, the Athletic Club and the RCD Mallorca.

Although the context could suggest that the meeting could be comfortable for the FC Barcelona because of the position and situation of both teams in the classification, the reality is that the Barcelona cast has to face the commitment with the maximum possible intensity. It is necessary to stand out that the UD Almería already complicated the things to the club culé in the first turn in Montjuïc, where the combined Catalan attained an adjusted victory by 3-2, in a day where the hero was Sergi Roberto converting a doublet, but in which the Andalusians showed very reactive, to the point that arrived to empatar the actions until in two opportunities.

What have to say the trainers of both clubs on this commitment?

Xavi Hernández, conscious of the challenge that avecina for his club, analysed the party and to the rival of the following way: "it will be a difficult party. The Almería has deserved a lot of more points of which has won and has freed , unfortunately for them. They do not have at all that lose. Have players of talent, have competed well against the teams of the high part of the classification. If we achieve six points, will remain second: the aim is very clear".

By his part, Pepe Mel, trainer of the Almería, to the equal that the egarense, offered his perspective on the keys of the commitment for the 'indálicos': "The idea is that they have to concern to play to backwards, give them problems and that do not have it easy", besides added: "I Have to carry to my footballers to convince them that we can win them". However, it warned that the club culé "has a brilliant staff and a trainer that knows to transmit what had when it was player; the normal is that the group blaugrana was to a big level".

Which are the absences of both squares for this duel?

Regarding the eleven initial of the FC Barcelona, expects that Xavi Hernández can pose an alternative team with several rotations in the Power Horse Stadium. The first absence confirmed is the one of İlkay Gündoğan by sanction. In addition to the already known absences of Pablo Gavi, Frenkie of Jong and Alejandro Balde by physical problems, could add the one of Ronald Araújo, whose presence in this commitment was put in doubt by the egarense in the previous of the clash: "Still it has this small annoyance Araujo, is not of the all comfortable".

In the side of the UD Almería, will not be able to have the mediocentro ghanés Idrissu Dribble, the one who recently was operated of apendicitis. However, Pepe Mel has the good news of the recovery of the Serbian defender Aleksandar Radovanović, the one who seems to be recovered of his injury in the aductor of his left leg although it does not expect that it initiate the meeting. In front of this, expects that the Andalusian group measure to the picture culé with the majority of his available pieces, in what it promises a duel quite 'litigated'.