Prediction: Barcelona vs Alaves

Prediction: Barcelona to win 3-0

Best Odds: 13/2

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Barcelona and Alaves will lock horns with each other in La Liga this weekend. The match between Xavi’s side and Luis García Plaza’s team will be held at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and is scheduled to kick off at 3:15 pm UK time on Sunday.

Barcelona

Barcelona are the defending La Liga champions and are expected by many to win the title yet again this season. They have one of the best squads in Spain and in Europe, and so far, things are going pretty well for the Blaugrana on the domestic front.

Xavi’s side are third in the La Liga table at the moment with 27 points from 12 matches. Barcelona are four points behind leaders Girona and two points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid in fourth have picked up 25 points from 11 games.

Barcelona suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Champions League Group H in midweek. It came after a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad away from home in La Liga which followed a 2-1 loss at the hands of Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Team News:

Barcelona are likely to line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Head coach Xavi will have Marc-André ter Stegen in goal. Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Inigo Martinez will be the three defenders. Joao Cancelo, Gavi, Ilkay Gundogan and Alejandro Balde will be the four midfielders. Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski will be the two forwards and will have Fermin Lopez behind them in attack.

Alaves

Alaves finished fourth in the Segunda Division table last season and won promotion to La Liga via the playoffs. They are expected to struggle to survive in the Premier League this season, and they are not having the best of times.

Luis García Plaza’s side are 14th in the La Liga table at the moment with 12 points from 12 matches, five points above the relegation zone. Almeria are the bottom club and have picked up three points from 12 games.

Alaves will head into the La Liga match against Barcelona this weekend on the back of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Almeria away from home in the league. It came after a 1-0 hammering at the hands of Deportivo Murcia in the Copa del Rey and a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in front of their own fans in the league.

Team News:

Alaves are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Barcelona. Antonio Sivera will be in goal for the visiting team. Andoni Gorosabel, Abdel Abqar, Aleksander Sedlar and Javi Lopez will be the four defenders. Antonio Blanco and Ander Guevara will be the two holding midfielders. Ianis Hagi, Jon Guridi and Luis Rioja will be the three attacking midfielders and will have Enrique Garcia ahead of them as the lone striker upfront.

Key Factors to Consider

• Barcelona have scored 24 goals in 12 La Liga matches.
• Barcelona have conceded 12 goals in 12 La Liga matches.
• Alaves have scored 10 goals in 12 La Liga games.
• Alaves have won 1 and lost 2 of their 5 La Liga games.
• Robert Lewandowski has scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in 10 La Liga matches for Barcelona this season.

Conclusion

Alaves are not having the best of times and are also the visiting team in this game. Barcelona are the defending Spanish champions and are at home. It is hard to see anything but a convincing win for Barcelona against Alaves in La Liga this weekend.

Prediction: Barcelona to win 3-0

Best Odds: 13/2

Bookmaker: Zetbet