LA LIGA PREVIEW: OSASUNA VS BARCELONA

INTRODUCTION

The Catalans have a golden opportunity to ensure they go into the break at the summit of the table as they travel to Pamplona. 

 Barcelona, through fortuitous circumstances elsewhere, have found themselves top of the La Liga table. They lead Real Madrid by 2 points after a 2-0 home win over Almeria and a Los Blancos defeat in Vallecas. With a Win in El Sadar, Xavi's men can be assured of entering the World Cup break in the same position they are in now. 

Osasuna won't be pushovers though. They've hit a blistering run of form as of recent and find themselves 5th in the table, one point below the Champions League spots after a Chimmy Avila double in Balaidos ensured that they went home with three points. They are one of the most entertaining sides to watch in the league right now and will be convinced that they can give a good account of themselves against a high flying Barcelona.

INTERESTING STATS 

- Barça have lost just one of their last 12 games with Osasuna, a shock home defeat in 2020.

- They have also lost just once in their last 12 visits to Pamplona in the league, that defeat coming back in the 2011/12 season with Pep Guardiola as coach.

- On their last six visits they have won three times and drawn three times with last season's fixture ending 2-2 with goals from Nico and Ez Abde.

- Osasuna have five wins from their first seven home games in La Liga in 2022/23 (L2), their highest home tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2005/06 (W7).

- Barcelona have taken 34 points after their first 13 games in La Liga 2022/23 (W11 D1 L1), equalling their joint-fourth highest tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign (34 points in 2010/11). 

- Robert Lewandowski has been involved in the most shots of any player in La Liga this season (65, 50 attempted, and 15 chances created).

Last five meetings (all La Liga)

13/03/22 Barça 4-0 Osasuna

12/12/22 Osasuna 2-2 Barça

06/03/21 Osasuna 0-2 Barça

29/11/20 Barça 4-0 Osasuna

16/07/20 Barça 1-2 Osasuna

TEAM NEWS

Osasuna

Arrasate doesn't have any fresh injury concerns ahead of the visit of Barcelona. Barcelona loanee Ez Abde has been nursing a thigh injury and will be unavailable. Kike Saveiro is also unavailable due to tendon injury. 

Aitor Fernández will guard the posts; Ruben Pena, Unai Garcia, David Garcia and Manu Sanchez will be the defenders, Lucas Torros, Aimar Oroz and  Moi Gomez will be tasked with contending with Barcelona's midfield. Chimmy Avila has been in red hot form and will spearhead the attack along with Ante Budimir and  Kike Barja.

Barcelona

Jules Kounde who was thought to be available for this clash will be on the sidelines, along with Ronald Araujo, Memphis Depay, Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie. 

Ter Stegen had been impeccable this season and will continue between the sticks. Andreas Christensen has returned from injury and could start. Eric Garcia is also an option, along with Marcos Alonso and Gerard Pique in the centre back positions. Hector Bellerin is tipped to start but could be benched by Balde with Alba continuing at Left back.

Gavi will be pushing to start alongside Pedri in midfield. Frenkie DeJong has been improving greatly and will likely start ahead of Busquets. Robert Lewandowski is guaranteed to start, Dembele could line up alongside him and Raphinha, who is also pushing for a start ahead of Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati.

Where and when are Osasuna vs Barcelona playing?

Location: Pamplona, Spain

Stadium: El Sadar

Date: Tuesday 8 November

Kick-off Time: 20:30 GMT / 15:30 EST / 12:30 PST

VAR: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva

Referee: Gil Manzano

CONCLUSION.

This has all the ingredients to be a difficult game for Barcelona. Osasuna have managed to make El Sadar quite impregnable this season and will love nothing more than to pull an upset here. Barcelona however, have been in red hot form in La Liga and should be able to do enough to get the victory.

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.