The Catalans host the league leaders; here’s everything you need to know about the match.
Team news
Barcelona
- Barcelona will miss Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele through injury.
- Ronald Koeman is likely to count on Oscar Mingueza and Konrad de la Fuente from Barca B.
Real Sociedad
- Real Sociedad travel to Catalonia without David Silva, Aritz Elustondo, Miguel Angel Moya, Jon Guridi, and Luca Sangalli.
- However, their coach Imanol Alguacil has revealed that Mikel Oyarzabal and Asier Illarramendi won’t play despite being included in the squad list.
Key stats
- The last match between the two sides ended in a 1-0 victory for Blaugrana.
- Out of the last five matches between Barca and La Real, the Catalans have won four, one game ended in a draw.
- In their last five matches across all competitions, Barcelona have registered three wins and two losses while the Basques have got five draws.
Probable line-ups
Barca XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong, Busquets; Messi, Griezmann, Coutinho; Braithwaite.
Real Sociedad: Remiro; Gorosabel, Le Normand, Sagnan, Monreal; Merino, Zubimendi; Portu, Lopez, Janzuaj; Willian Jose. (h/t SportsMole)
Managers’ quotes
Ronald Koeman (Barcelona): “They are a good team. You can tell they’ve been playing together for a few years. I like how they play. I’m aware we’ll have to play well, with confidence and possession to cause them problems. I think it will be an open match, last year it was open. Both teams want to have the ball and press so I expect a nice, open game.”
Imanol Alguacil (Real Sociedad): “I think the current Barcelona are doing very well. It’s a bit strange because for them it’s not normal to lose four games. Physically, they are doing better than in the previous years and they have a younger team now. They are a strong team.”
Predictions
SportsMole’s Matt Law: Barcelona 1-1 Real Sociedad
“Sociedad can ill afford to draw another game with Atletico hot on their trail, but the table-toppers will have to produce an inspired performance to come up trumps in Catalonia. Koeman’s Barcelona are hardly firing on all cylinders either, though, and we can see this enticing showdown ending with both sides chalking up a point apiece.”
LaLigaEspert’s Mark Sochon: Barcelona 2-1 Real Sociedad
“You might have backed a fresh Real Sociedad, free from European distractions, to have come here and caused an upset or at least finally ended their woeful run of defeats on this ground. They did rest a number of key players at the weekend but their open style might just suit Barcelona to some extent and Ronald Koeman’s side may just edge it with Mikel Oyarzabal missing again for La Real.”
Follow our socials Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google News.
