Barcelona will host Real Sociedad this Sunday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, aiming to stay atop LaLiga before facing Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

However, the challenge will not be easy for the Blaugranas, as they face a Real Sociedad side managed by Imanol Alguacil, who already knows what it's like to win in Barcelona. The visitors will seek to repeat their triumph from Matchday 35 of the 2022-23 season, when they secured a 2-1 win at Camp Nou with goals from Mikel Merino and Alexander Sørloth. Moreover, this season, Barcelona has already suffered a defeat against Real Sociedad, losing 1-0 at the Reale Arena in the first leg of the campaign.

Fatigue and Rotations Ahead of the Champions League

Barcelona arrives at this match after a physically demanding 4-4 draw against Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, a game in which the Catalans came back from a two-goal deficit, only for the Colchoneros to equalize in the final ten minutes.

With long-term absences including goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and midfielder Marc Bernal, as well as the recent injury of defender Andreas Christensen, coach Hansi Flick might rotate his squad with the upcoming Champions League fixture in mind. Center-back Ronald Araújo, who started on the bench against Atlético de Madrid, could return to the lineup in place of Iñigo Martínez, while Marc Casadó may take over the defensive midfield role to give Frenkie de Jong a rest, as he did against Las Palmas.

Up front, Robert Lewandowski is expected to return to the starting eleven in place of Ferran Torres, while the main doubt remains whether Pablo Páez Gavira ‘Gavi’ will play as an attacking midfielder or if Dani Olmo will retain the role.

On the other hand, Real Sociedad faces a tight schedule and has its priorities set on European competition. Like Barcelona, the Txuri-Urdin played a demanding Copa del Rey semifinal match, but with one less day of rest, which could impact their performance at Montjuic.

Imanol Alguacil will have to cope with several absences. In addition to injured players Álvaro Odriozola, Arsen Zakharyan, and Jon Pacheco, Luka Sučić is also likely to be sidelined, while Mikel Oyarzabal remains doubtful. The coach will also be without suspended players Sheraldo Becker, Takefusa Kubo, and Nayef Aguerd.

As a result, Imanol Alguacil will have to rely on academy players from Zubieta, with the club focusing on next Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash against Manchester United.

Probable Lineups

Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Balde; Casadó, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Gavi or Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.

Real Sociedad: Remiro; Aritz, Jon Martín, Zubeldia, Javi López; Turrientes, Olasagasti, Marín; Marchal, Óskarsson, Sergio Gómez.

Referee: Quintero González (Andalusian Committee).

Stadium: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Current Standings

• Barcelona: 1st (54 pts).
• Real Sociedad: 9th (34 pts).

Team News

Barcelona

• Injuries: Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen.
• Suspension Risk: Gavi.
• Stat: This will be the second time Quintero González officiates a Barcelona match in LaLiga. The only previous occasion was a 1-0 defeat to Leganés on Matchday 17, where Sergio González scored the lone goal from a corner kick.
• Quote: “We’ll use fresh players; no excuses” (Hansi Flick).

Real Sociedad

• Call-ups: Academy players.
• Injuries: Odriozola, Zakharyan, Pacheco, and Sučić.
• Suspensions: Becker, Kubo, and Aguerd.
• Doubtful: Oyarzabal.