Barcelona vs Alaves

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Barcelona seeks to recover from a recent setback in the Champions League as they prepare to face Alaves in La Liga on Sunday. Following a 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe, Xavi's team, currently positioned third in the La Liga standings, faces the challenge of regaining momentum. In contrast, Alaves comes into this fixture following a 1-0 league triumph over Almeria.

The Champions League loss to Shakhtar has put Barcelona in a precarious position in Group H, with their qualification for the knockout stage now uncertain. Despite leading the group, they share nine points with Porto in second place, with only a three-point cushion over third-placed Shakhtar. This has intensified the importance of their upcoming clash with Porto at the end of the month.

Barcelona's recent form has been inconsistent, with two losses in their last three matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico. However, they managed to secure a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in their latest league outing. With eight wins, three draws, and one loss in 12 league matches, Barcelona currently sits in third place with 27 points, trailing Real Madrid by two points and surprise leaders Girona by four.

Facing Atletico Madrid and Girona early in December adds significance to the upcoming match against Alaves. Xavi emphasizes the importance of a victory, considering the need to bounce back from the recent disappointing result against Shakhtar, which he labeled as "one of the worst games" since his tenure as head coach began.

Alaves heads into the upcoming match with two consecutive victories, triumphing over Deportivo Murcia 10-0 in the Copa del Rey's first round and securing a 1-0 win against Almeria in the league last week. Their recent success places them in 14th position on the table with 12 points from 12 games in the current campaign. Having earned promotion through the 2022-23 Segunda Division playoffs, Luis Garcia's team aims to establish itself in Spain's top flight once again. Despite a solid defensive record of conceding only 16 goals, they share the lowest goal-scoring record (10) with Las Palmas and Cadiz in the division.

Alaves previously held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in the 2021-22 La Liga season and achieved an impressive away victory over the reigning champions in September 2016.

Barcelona, however, faces the match without three key players. Gavi is suspended following a booking against Real Sociedad, Sergi Roberto is sidelined with a calf problem, and Frenkie de Jong continues to recover from an ankle issue. Despite initial concerns about Ronald Araujo's fitness after the Shakhtar clash, he is deemed fit to start. Coach Xavi plans to make changes, with Joao Felix, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez, and Jules Kounde in contention for recalls. Pedri's return to full match fitness will likely progress from the bench.

In contrast, Alaves will be missing three players—Sedlar, Carlos Benavidez, and Giuliano Simeone. Sedlar, who sustained a serious knee injury against Almeria, is expected to be out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Rafa Marin is anticipated to replace Sedlar in defense, and apart from this change, Alaves may field an unchanged lineup from the Almeria clash. Former Real Madrid midfielder Antonio Blanco is likely to feature against the La Liga champions.

Currently occupying the 14th position in the La Liga standings, Deportivo Alaves has not displayed their peak performance in the ongoing season. In their recent outing, they secured a close 1-0 victory over Almeria, emphasizing the necessity for concerted effort to replicate such success in the upcoming match.

Contrastingly, Barcelona sits comfortably in the third spot of the league table, showcasing an impressive run of form. Despite their recent setback, suffering an unexpected 1-0 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk, the Catalan giants aim to rebound in the approaching weekend fixture.

Barcelona boasts a favorable history against Deportivo Alaves, winning 19 out of the last 27 encounters, compared to Deportivo Alaves' four victories. Furthermore, they hold an unbeaten streak of 11 matches against Deportivo Alaves in La Liga, marking their longest such sequence against this opponent.

In their home matches against Deportivo Alaves, Barcelona has been consistent in finding the net, with only one instance of failing to score in their last 17 La Liga encounters. Notably, this solitary exception occurred in a 1-0 defeat in 2000. Despite a recent loss to Real Madrid, breaking a six-game winning streak at home in La Liga, Barcelona remains a formidable force.

Deportivo Alaves, after enduring a seven-match winless stretch, revived their fortunes with a 1-0 triumph over Almeria last week. Barcelona, equipped with a formidable squad, is yet to reach their full potential this season, evident in their subpar performance against Shakhtar Donetsk. The upcoming weekend presents an opportunity for Barcelona to rectify their recent lapse and showcase their true capabilities.