
By Sama Marwan,
German coach Hansi Flick has announced Barcelona’s starting lineup for their La Liga Matchday 22 clash against Deportivo Alavés.
Barcelona’s Starting XI vs. Alavés:
Szczęsny – Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Balde – Casado, Pedri, Gavi – Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Match Preview
Barcelona will host Deportivo Alavés at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys at 3:00 PM (local time) in a must-win match to maintain their seven-point gap from league leaders Real Madrid.
Currently, Barcelona sits third in the standings with 42 points, while Alavés is in 17th place with 21 points, just one point above the relegation zone.
Barça enters the match full of confidence after a 7-1 thrashing of Valencia, a 2-2 draw against Atalanta, and a dramatic 5-4 comeback win against Benfica in the Champions League after trailing 4-2 in the final minutes. The Catalan side is aiming for a comfortable victory while hoping for favorable results from rivals to stay in contention for the league title.
On the other hand, Alavés is desperate for a win to secure their place in La Liga next season. However, their poor form this season—five wins, six draws, and 10 losses in 21 matches—leaves them in a tough position, just one point ahead of Espanyol in 18th place.
Team News & Injuries
Barcelona Absentees:
- Iñigo Martínez (muscle injury, nearing recovery)
- Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, and Marc-André ter Stegen (long-term knee injuries)
- Andreas Christensen (muscle issue)
Despite these absences, Wojciech Szczęsny is expected to keep his place in goal, while Pau Cubarsí and Marc Casado are likely to return to the starting XI.
Alavés Absentees:
- Antonio Blanco returns from suspension.
- Antonio Sivera (hand injury) remains out.
- Abdallahi Mahmoud Abqar is suspended after receiving a yellow card against Celta Vigo.
Barcelona will be looking to capitalize on their recent form and keep their title hopes alive with a strong performance against a struggling Alavés side.