Rabat – Camp Nou hosts Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves on Saturday. Barcelona, second with 31 points, aims to stay close to Real Madrid.
Alaves are 14th with 15 points, weak in attack but solid in defense. Barça want to recover from their 3-0 loss to Chelsea and win to briefly go top before Real Madrid game tomorrow.
Match Details
- Fixture: FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés (La Liga, Matchday 14)
- Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona
- Date: Saturday, November 29
- Kick-off: 4:15 p.m.
- How to Watch: BeIN Sport 1 (MENA), ESPN+ (USA), ESPN Deportes, FuboTV
Barcelona Team News
Injuries/Suspensions: Hansi Flick is missing several key players. Marc-André ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Gavi, and Fermín López are out, and no Barcelona players are suspended.
Returns/Doubts: Pedri is back after a month out and may play off the bench. Raphinha has returned to training and could start or be a substitute. Frenkie de Jong is available again after suspension. With Ter Stegen sidelined, new goalkeeper Joan García will start.
Recent Form: Barcelona have won their last three La Liga matches, including a 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, and are one point behind Real Madrid.
Their 3-0 midweek loss to Chelsea in the Champions League was a setback. The attack has been strong, but the defense remains shaky.
Key Players: Robert Lewandowski leads the attack. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha add pace and creativity on the wings.
Barcelona Likely XI: Joan Garcia; Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Alejandro Balde; Marc Casadó, Frenkie de Jong; Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha; Robert Lewandowski
Deportivo Alaves Team News
Injuries/Suspensions: Alaves coach Eduardo Coudet is without Facundo Garces (suspended) and Nikola Maras (knee injury).
Yuri Berchiche has returned from injury. Midfielder Calebe will be assessed after a knock. No other major doubts.
Recent Form: Alaves have won only 1 of their last 5 games and scored just twice in the past month. They sit 14th with 17 points (5 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses). Strong at home defensively, but away, they have conceded seven goals in five matches.
Key Players: Carlos Vicente leads with 5 goals and 2 assists. Denis Suarez and Carles Alena add creativity and experience.
Antoni Sivera starts in goal and will face heavy pressure against Barcelona. Toni Martínez and Lucas Boye bring pace in attack, with Oscar Blanco and Marc Bernal as bench options.
Alaves Likely XI: Antonio Sivera; Jonny Otto, Nahuel Tenaglia, José Pacheco, Yuri Berchiche; Carlos Vicente, Antonio Blanco, Denis Suárez, Carles Aleñá; Toni Martínez, Lucas Boyé
What to Expect
Barcelona are expected to keep the ball and press high from the start. Flick’s team will build attacks through Lewandowski and the fast wingers.
But the defense has been alarmingly poor this season, with no clean sheet in the last nine league games.
Alaves will likely sit deep in a compact 4-4-2 and try to frustrate Barça, relying on counter-attacks from Vicente or Boyé if the hosts push forward.
History favors Barcelona. They have beaten Alaves in 35 of 49 meetings, including the last five.
Alaves last won at Camp Nou in 2016. Still, last season Barça struggled to a 1-0 win in Vitoria, so they must be clinical and avoid defensive mistakes to secure the points.
Safe Bets
- Both Teams to Score (Yes): Alaves are expected to score, and Barcelona’s weak defense has conceded often, so both sides finding the net is likely.
- Over 2.5 Goals: Barcelona’s matches are usually high-scoring, and with their attack in form plus Alaves aiming for a goal, the total should go over 2.5.
- Robert Lewandowski to Score: Lewandowski leads Barcelona’s attack and is a strong favorite to score again, having netted twice in the last meeting.