Barcelona vs Osasuna

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Barcelona aims to recover from back-to-back losses as they prepare to face Osasuna in Wednesday's La Liga match. This game is significant as it marks Barcelona's first appearance since Xavi announced his departure as head coach at the end of the season. Xavi's decision comes amid scrutiny following an inconsistent season, evident in Barcelona's recent results.

After a 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, Barcelona secured victories against Unionistas and Real Betis but suffered a setback with a 4-2 loss in extra time to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey clash last Wednesday. Following their cup exit, Barcelona showed resilience by coming back from two goals down to lead 3-2 against Villarreal, but a late comeback by the Yellow Submarine resulted in a 5-3 defeat.

Despite Xavi's decision bringing some clarity to his future, he faces pressure to reverse the team's fortunes, especially with Athletic Bilbao trailing just two points behind them in fifth place. Barcelona, currently in fourth place and 11 points behind leaders Girona, has an opportunity to widen the gap to five points on Wednesday. The team has a favorable record against Osasuna, having won their last six meetings, including a 2-0 victory in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.

Osasuna has secured four points in their recent two matches, rebounding from defeats against Barcelona and Real Sociedad in the Super Cup and Copa del Rey. Juan Areso's 80th-minute goal led them to a 3-2 victory over Getafe, while Ante Budimir's second-half equalizer earned them a 1-1 draw with Sevilla on Sunday.

With seven wins, five draws, and nine losses in 21 La Liga matches, Osasuna currently holds the 12th position in the standings. A win in their upcoming Wednesday match could propel them into the top half of the table. While securing three points may be challenging, Osasuna is optimistic about avoiding defeat, having lost just one of their last seven league matches (W3, D3).

Despite recent success, Osasuna has faced difficulties in away games, with two draws and four losses in their last six away league matches since defeating Alaves in October. Ending this winless streak would mark their first victory over Barcelona since a 2-1 win in July 2020.

Barcelona aims to reverse their recent poor performance in a midweek La Liga match against Osasuna. Despite their recent struggles, Barcelona's superior quality should give them an edge, especially considering Osasuna's poor away form.

In their previous La Liga game, Barcelona suffered a disappointing 5-3 home defeat against Villarreal, conceding three goals in the final six minutes after staging a comeback from a two-goal deficit. This setback follows losses in the Spanish Super Cup final to Real Madrid and a 4-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey. Barcelona's leaky defense has been a significant factor, conceding 16 goals in their last five matches across all competitions.

The current challenges have led to the announcement of manager Xavi's departure at the end of the season. The team, however, seeks redemption and can draw confidence from being unbeaten in eight of their last 10 La Liga matches, with six wins in that period.

Osasuna heads to Barcelona after securing a 1-1 draw against Sevilla in their last La Liga outing, equalizing through Ante Budimir after falling behind in the second half. Osasuna has displayed inconsistency this season, with only four wins in their last 14 matches across all competitions. Currently positioned 12th in the standings, they find themselves in a mid-table position, not facing relegation threats but also not contending for higher positions.

Barcelona is currently grappling with an extensive list of injuries, including key players such as Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso, and Gavi. Additionally, Sergi Roberto, Raphinha, and Inigo Martinez are expected to be unavailable, with Martinez still recovering from a muscle injury.

In response to Joao Felix's absence due to an ankle injury suffered in Tuesday's training session, Ferran Torres is anticipated to step in as his replacement. Xavi might consider making additional changes following the team's defeat on Saturday, with Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, and Pedri vying for starting positions in the upcoming midweek fixture.

On the opposing side, Chimy Avila is nearing a return to fitness, but the Wednesday match will likely be too early for the 29-year-old forward. Areso, who has appeared as a substitute in the last two matches, could potentially make his 15th league start of the season.

Osasuna's coach, Jagoba Arrasate, might contemplate a few alterations to inject freshness into his team. Aimar Oroz and Jose Manuel Arnaiz are contenders to start against the current La Liga champions.