Barcelona vs. Alaves: A Critical Look at La Liga’s Shifting Sands

Barcelona hosts Alaves at Camp Nou. The question isn’t if Barcelona will win, but how convincingly. After that stinging 3-0 defeat at Chelsea, a dominant performance is vital, not just for points, but to restore some much-needed confidence.

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona finds itself in an interesting position. Are they truly championship contenders, or are they simply coasting on past reputation? Winning a fourth La Liga match straight would certainly help project an image of recovery. Overcoming Alaves would, at least temporarily, place them ahead of Real Madrid in the league standings. Still, this might be a mirage if deeper flaws remain unaddressed.
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Alaves, currently hovering just above the relegation zone, presents a seemingly manageable challenge. History isn’t on their side, with only two wins at Barcelona since the year 2000, the most recent of which occurred in 2016. Eduardo Coudet’s team needs points badly, making them a potentially tricky opponent.

Barcelona must secure a victory with authority. A narrow win, or worse, a draw, will amplify the existing doubts that haunt the Catalan giants. Let’s dive deeper into what to expect.

Barcelona’s Head-to-Head and Current Form
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Recent form paints a mixed picture. Barcelona’s 3-0 thrashing by Chelsea shows their vulnerability against top-tier opposition, but they’ve also managed convincing wins against Athletic Club and Celta Vigo. A draw against Club Brugge hints at inconsistency.

Alaves’s recent results are equally uneven. A loss to Celta Vigo and Girona bookend a mixed bag, including a win against Espanyol and a high-scoring victory against CD Getxo in the Copa del Rey. That said, their loss to Rayo Vallecano reinforces their struggles against La Liga opposition.

How to Watch: Barcelona vs. Alaves Broadcast Information

For fans in the United States, ESPN Select and ESPN Deportes will carry the game. United Kingdom viewers can tune into Premier Sports Player and La Liga TV. In Canada, TSN+ and TSN 2 have the broadcast rights, while in Mexico, Sky Sports provides coverage.

Predicted Lineups and Tactical Approaches

Raphinha looks set to make his first start in over two months. Flick clearly hopes the Brazilian winger will inject new dynamism into Barcelona’s attack. Injury concerns persist, as Pedri remains sidelined, and now Fermín López has joined him on the treatment table.

Marc Casadó should step in for Pedri, and Dani Olmo will likely substitute López. Frenkie de Jong’s return from suspension provides a boost in midfield.

Ronald Araújo’s recent struggles, coupled with a stomach virus, might see La Masía graduate Gerard Martín secure a second consecutive league start at center back.

Predicted Barcelona Lineup (4-2-3-1): García; García, Cubarsí, Martín, Balde; De Jong, Casadó; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.

Alaves, for their part, will try to bridge the quality gap with a disciplined, collective performance. The presence of former Barcelona players like Denis Suárez and Carles Aleñá adds an intriguing subplot. They will undoubtedly want to make a statement against their former club. Former Real Madrid striker Mariano Díaz might also feature, looking to repeat past successes against Barcelona, though he’ll likely start on the bench.

Eduardo Coudet is likely to stick with his established starting eleven.

Predicted Alaves Lineup (4-4-2): Sivera; Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Enríquez; Vicente, Blanco, Suárez, Aleñá; Boye, Martínez.

Game Analysis and Prediction

Barcelona is under immense pressure to deliver a convincing win. After being blanked by Chelsea, their attack will be eager to rediscover its scoring touch. While their defense has appeared shaky, facing one of La Liga’s lowest-scoring teams offers an opportunity to regain some solidity.

Barcelona will likely dominate possession and create the majority of chances. It’s important to note that complacency can be deadly against a motivated underdog like Alaves.

Barcelona should secure a comfortable victory, moving to the top of the La Liga standings, at least temporarily. A final score prediction:

Barcelona 3-0 Alaves.

The bigger picture: This game is about more than just three points. It is about Barcelona re-establishing its authority and demonstrating that the Chelsea loss was just a blip, not a sign of deeper structural problems. Only time will truly tell.

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Keywords: Barcelona vs Alaves, La Liga, Barcelona prediction, Alaves prediction, Barcelona lineup, Alaves lineup, Hansi Flick, Eduardo Coudet