A crucial match to stay in the title race

After defeats against Las Palmas and Leganés, Barcelona hosts Deportivo Alavés this Sunday, facing another lower-table opponent they cannot afford to drop points against if they want to stay in the LaLiga title fight.

This match comes just four days after Hansi Flick’s team secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 by drawing 2-2 at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys against Atalanta.

Supercopa triumph boosted Barça, but LaLiga inconsistency remains

After winning the Supercopa de España in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Barcelona regained confidence and their early-season form. Since then, they have gone five matches unbeaten. However, in LaLiga, the Blaugranas have not won back-to-back games since November, when they defeated Real Madrid 4-0 and Espanyol 3-1.

Now, they have the chance to do so again if they beat Alavés, whom they already defeated 3-0 away in the first half of the season, with a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski.

For this match, Barcelona has four confirmed absences. Alongside the long-term injuries of Marc-André ter Stegen and Marc Bernal, they will also be without Dani Olmo, who missed the last two matches due to a calf strain in his right leg, and most recently, Andreas Christensen, who suffered a similar injury.

On the positive side, Flick will have defender Iñigo Martínez back, after missing the last five matches due to an injury sustained in the Supercopa de España final against Real Madrid. With his return, the German coach must decide who partners with Ronald Araújo in central defense, with Pau Cubarsí and Eric García as the main options.

At full-back, Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé have solidified their roles, while in goal, Wojciech Szczęsny will start for the fourth consecutive match over Iñaki Peña.

In midfield, Marc Casadó could return to the starting XI in place of Frenkie de Jong, who has been in excellent form lately, joining Pedri and Gavi, both recently renewing their contracts.

Up front, it seems clear that the attacking trio will be Robert Lewandowski, Raphael Dias 'Raphinha', and Lamine Yamal in a must-win match for Barcelona.

Alavés unafraid of the Camp Nou

Eduardo Coudet’s team arrives after a home draw but with confidence following an impressive 3-1 away win against Real Betis in their last road game.

The Argentine coach will be without Abdel Abqar, suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, as well as injured players Antonio Sivera and Joan Jordán. However, he will regain Antonio Blanco, a key figure in midfield.

Since Coudet’s arrival, Alavés has shown improvement, though their last match was a setback. Even so, the attacking duo of Carlos Vicente and Kike García, LaLiga’s top Spanish scorer, gives Alavés hope, as they have performed better away from Mendizorroza.

The squad’s biggest news is the inclusion of winter signing Pau Cabanes, who arrives from Villarreal to bolster the attack.

Probable lineups

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

Alavés: Owono; Tenaglia, Mouriño, Diarra, Manu Sánchez; Blanco, Guevara; Vicente, Carlos Martín, Guridi; Kike García.

Referee: Martínez Munuera (Valencian Committee).
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys.
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. (local time).

Match facts

Standings:
Barcelona (3rd, 42 points)
Alavés (17th, 21 points)

Key quote:
Hansi Flick: "We need a winning streak to put pressure on Real Madrid."

Stat:
Barcelona is unbeaten in their last 15 matches against Alavés (13 wins, 2 draws).

Injuries and squad updates

Barcelona:
Out: Ter Stegen, Christensen, Olmo, Marc Bernal (injured).
In: Iñigo Martínez.

Alavés:
Stat: Kike García is the top Spanish goalscorer in LaLiga.
Out: Sivera, Jordán (injured), Abqar (suspended).
In: Antonio Blanco (returning from suspension), Cabanes (new signing).
Booked: Conechny, Guridi.