LA LIGA PREVIEW: BARCELONA VS ALMERIA

INTRODUCTION

Barcelona welcome Segunda División champions to the Spotify Camp Nou for their last home game before the World Cup break.

With their European campaign wrapped up, Barcelona will now look to continue their top form in La Liga.  Their Champions League form has been nothing short of a disaster, but they remain strong domestically, winning 10 of their last 11 games. In the wake of Club Legend Gerard Piqué announcing his imminent departure, the players will be extra motivated to make it a memorable last home game for the Spaniard.

Their visitors haven't been all that bad since their return to the top flight as they currently sit in 13th position after the 3-1 home win over Celta, but they remain vulnerable on the road, recording one draw and losing the rest of their away games so far. They'll have their work cut out for them as they visit the Camp Nou, where Barcelona has scored 15, conceded 0 and have dropped points just once.

INTERESTING STATS 

• In  twelve previous league meetings, Barça have won ten, drawn two and never lost to Almería.
• Barcelonahave kept a clean sheet in their last 6 home matches (LaLiga).
  
• Barcelona have won 10 of their last 11 matches (LaLiga).
• Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in their last 9 matches against Almeria in all competitions.
• Almeria have lost their last 5 away matches (LaLiga).
• Almeria have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 away matches (LaLiga).

Last five meetings (all in La Liga)
08/04/15 Barça 4-0 Almería
08/11/14 Almería 1-2 Barça
02/03/14 Barça 4-1 Almería
28/09/13 Almería 0-2 Barça
09/04/11 Barça 3-1 Almería

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Marc Andre TerStegen was rested against Plzen but will be back to the starting lineup for this one. The Catalans continue to be plagued by injuries, especially at the back. Garcia and Kounde were unable to finish the game at Mestalla due to knocks; Garcia has been able to shake his off and make the squad though. Andreas Christensen has also been welcomed back to the squad after nursing an ankle problem inflicted in San Siro earlier this month. Sergi Roberto and Ronald Araujo remain absentees, Hector Bellerin is not match fit just yet so we might see Balde line up at Right back once again and Jordi Alba start at Left back. Pique will likely start in his swan song as a player at the Camp Nou. Marcos Alonso is an option at Centre back and left back.

Frank Kessie sustained a hamstring injury at the Czech Republic and will be sidelined for the rest of the year. Pedri, Dejong and Busquets were also rested for that game and will likely start in Midfield against Almeria.

Robert Lewandowski is another player that got a deserved rest in midweek but will be ready to lead the Frontline that could contain Dembele and Ansu Fati, although Raphinha and Ferran Torres have made strong cases to start. Memphis Depay remains unavailable for selection.

ALMERIA

The visitors don't have much worries on the injury front, with only fringe players Juanjo Nieto and Ivan Martos looking likely to miss out. They both continue the gruelling recovery required to return from a ruptured cruciate ligament. As such, we should not see too many selection surprises from Rubi here, who could name an unchanged squad from last weekend's win.

Fernando Martinez will start in goal for the visitors. Houboulang Mendes and Sergio Akieme will be deployed as the full-backs while Rodrigo Ely and Srdjan Babic will start as the centre-backs.

Gonzalo Melero and Cesar De la Hoz will be the two midfielders in a pivot, Leo Baptistao and Adrian Embarba will start out wide while Lucas Robertone will operate as the number ten. El Bilal Toure will lead the attack.

Where and when are Barcelona vs Almeria playing?

• Location: Barcelona, Spain
• Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou
• Date: Saturday 5 November
• Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 16:00 EST / 13:00 PST
• VAR: Santiago Jaime Latre
• Referee: Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes

CONCLUSION

 Barcelona remain imperious in La Liga and are expected to win comfortably here. Almeria have some power, pace and skill up front to ask some questions, but their defense, one of the worst in the league right now, will have difficulty containing the joint highest scoring side in the country.

For their last home game before the break, Barcelona will work to deliver a vintage performance that also doubles as a farewell for football legend, Gerard Piqué.