Barcelona will continue their La Liga title quest this Saturday as they welcome Almeria to Camp Nou.
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Key Statistics
Barcelona have won their last five league games at home.
They have not conceded at home in the league this season keeping six clean sheets.
The hosts have the best defence in La Liga, having conceded just four goals in 12 games.
They have the joint-best attack too, having scored 29 goals alongside Real Madrid.
Almería have the worst away record in the league this season, having failed to win away from home (D1, L5).
They have scored just three goals away from home, which is the joint-lowest in the league.
The visitors are winless away from home in 13 league games (D1, L12).
Almería manager Rubi have lost all six games he has overseen against Barcelona.
No side has opened the scoring more often than Barcelona (ten) in this league campaign, with each occasion resulting in a win.
Head to head
Barcelona have won nine of the last ten meetings between both sides (D1). The Catalan side are unbeaten in 16 games against the visitors (W13, D3).
Latest performances in all competitions
Barcelona: W-W-L-W-W
Almería: W-L-W-L-W
Barcelona
Having edged out a dead-rubber game against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic, Barcelona returns to La Liga action against Almeria at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana signed off their shambolic Champions League campaign with a game against Viktoria Plzen. Head coach Xavi Hernandez welcomed the opportunity to rotate his starting 11 and give playing time to some fringe players.
With very little to play for and no pressure from the home crowd, Barca youngsters dazzled and treated the crowd to a goal fest, with both teams exchanging blow for blow in the form of goals.
Marcos Alonso opened the scoring for Barcelona in the sixth minute when he reacted quickly to send the ball across the line after Ansu Fati had his initial shot blocked. Ferran Torres doubled the lead for the Catalan club with the first half coming to an end.
Viktoria Plzen started the second half on the stronger foot and got a goal back through Tomas Chory, who converted from the penalty spot. But the goals did not stop there, with Ferran Torres grabbing his second of the night, and Tomas Chory adding another to his tally. Barca youngster Pablo Torre, who made his first start for the club, signed off a goal-filled evening with a strike of his own to draw the curtain on the encounter.
Barcelona will now turn their attention to the La Liga campaign where they sit second behind Real Madrid in the pecking order, and having missed out on Europe’s Premier competitions, the Blaugrana will be keen not to lose further ground on the Spanish League.
Barcelona played out a hard-fought game against Valencia in La Liga last time out. Robert Lewandowski once more was a deciding factor in a physically gruelling encounter where Braca were made to suffer for the win.
Xavi Hernandez will be keen to see his side, avoid any slip-ups and pick up all three points against the La Liga newcomers.
Possible Barcelona starting line-up
Marc Ter Stegen; Hector Bellerin, Gerard Pique, Jules Kounde, Marcos Alonso; Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong; Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele, Robert Lewandowski.
Injured: Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Memphis Depay, Sergi Roberto, Franck Kessie
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Almeria
Almeria have spectacularly taken to the Spanish topflight after gaining promotion last season.
The away side have picked up an impressive four wins, one draw and seven losses to sit in 13th place in the La Liga standings.
Rojiblancos sit three points clear of the relegation zones and will be looking to further extend the gap between them and the teams in the bottom and secure La Liga football for next season.
To keep their chances alive, Almeria will have to keep picking up vital wins like they did last week against Celta Vigo.
Rubi Sicilia’s side brushed off Celta with the ease that is seldom attributed to elite clubs. Gabri Veiga opened the scoring for Celta in the 25th minute and received a red card seven minutes later in a remarkable turn of events.
Almeria started exerting themselves with the numerical advantage and finally got their equaliser through substitute Lazaro Vinicius in the second half. Further goals from Caeser De La Hoz and Inigo Equaroz put the tie well beyond doubt for the Rojiblancos.
Almeria now travel to Barcelona as they look to pick their second consecutive win but face a daunting task when they take to the Camp Nou. But having picked up three wins in their last five games, the Rojiblancos will fancy their chances of getting a good result against a Barcelona side who have looked shaky in recent weeks.
Possible Almeria starting line-up.
Fernando Martinez; Alejandro Pozo, Chumi, Srdjan Babic, Rodrigo Ely, Sergio Akieme; Samu Costa, Lucas Robertone, El Bilal Toure; Lergie Ramezani, Lozaro.
Injured: Alex Centilles, Juanjo Nieto
Doubtful: Marko Milovanovic, Carlos Rojas
Suspended: None
Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Almería
