LA LIGA PREVIEW: BARCELONA VS REAL VALLADOLID

INTRODUCTION

Barcelona welcome Valladolid to the Camp Nou for their second home game of the season. Coming into this game on that back of a convincing victory at the Reale Arena, confidence is high and they will look to clinch their first 3 points on home soil.

Valladolid however, have begun their La Liga campaign in somewhat dreadful fashion, though they impressed at the Sanchez Pizjuan to earn a hard fought point. They will come into this game hoping to do more than that.

INTERESTING STATS.

- Barcelona have won 14 of their last 15 meetings with Real Valladolid in La Liga (L1), last losing against them in March 2014, 1-0 at the Jose Zorilla.

- Barcelona have won each of their last eight La Liga home games against Real Valladolid, averaging more than three goals per game during this run (3.4).

- Since the start of the 2008/09 campaign, against no other side have Barcelona scored more times at home than against Real Valladolid in the competition (40, as many as Osasuna and Sevilla).

- Real Valladolid have failed to win their last 14 matches (La Liga).

- Barcelona have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six matches against Real Valladolid in all competitions.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS (ALL IN LA LIGA)

05/04/21 FC Barcelona 1 (Dembélé) Valladolid 0

22/12/20 Valladolid 0 FC Barcelona 3 (Lenglet, Braithwaite, Messi)

11/07/20 Valladolid 0 FC Barcelona 1 (Vidal)

29/10/19 FC Barcelona 5 (Lenglet, Vidal, Messi (2), Suárez) Valladolid 1

16/02/19 FC Barcelona 1 (Messi) Valladolid 0

25/08/18 Valladolid 0 FC Barcelona 1 (Dembélé)

TEAM NEWS

  Barcelona go into this game with no injury concerns. Jules Kounde has been registered, but it'll be interesting to see if Xavi slots him into the starting XI. Sergio Busquets, having served his one match bam, is available for selection. Up front, with he exception of Lewandowski, no one is deemed a guaranteed starter, adding to the unpredictability of this Barcelona side.

  Real Valladolid do have some concerns. Last season's top scorer, Shon Weissman and Gonzalo Plata are sidelined due to injury, Jawad El Yamiq was given a straight res against Sevilla and so will sit this one out.

Joaquin Fernandez is likely to come into the side in the middle of the defence, while there could be a change at centre-forward, with Pedro Leon potentially replacing Sergi Guardiola.

Where are Barcelona vs Real Valladolid playing?

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou

Date: Sunday 28 August

Kick-off Time: 18:30 BST / 13:30 EST / 10:30 PST

VAR: Santiago Jaime Latre

Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea

CONCLUSION

The last time Valladolid came to Barcelona, they were a tough not to crack, almost scampering away with a point, it not for Dembele's winner in the last minute of regular time. Their new manager, Pacheta, has also instilled some attacking intent into the team so they might dare to be brave, but Barcelona remain overwhelming favorites in this fixture and are expected to get their first 3 points of the season on home soil.

LA LIGA PREVIEW: Real Sociedad vs Barcelona

      INTRODUCTION

       Barcelona travel to the Anoeta stadium for their second game of the season.

       The stalemate at the Camp Nou against Rayo Vallecano left a bitter taste; On one hand, we got to see the new signings in action and what they could bring to the team; On the other, 2 valuable points that would've been won on another day were dropped. There was also lack of fluidity in the team, understandably so, but this is expected to improve.

       Real Sociedad are coming into this tie on the back of a 1-0 win over Cadiz, with Take Kubo grabbing the 24th minute winner in Andalusia.

       Under Imanol, the Basque side have shown steady progression since his appointment in 2018, finishing with 62 points in the last two seasons. The agenda of this season however, will be to improve on that whilst closing the gap on the top 4 teams in La Liga.

INTERESTING STATS.

    - The previous 6 visits to San Sebastian has seen Barcelona come off with 4 wins and 2 draws. The last meeting ended in a 1-0 thanks to Aubameyang's goal in the first half. This is the best ever run for the Catalans against the Basque outfit.

    - This is in stark contrast to the years before when Anoeta was the bogey stadium for Barcelona, with 5 defeats and 3 draws endured by the Catalans.

    - Real Sociedad have conceded 6 goals twice since 1995, both to Barcelona (2000 & 2021).

    - Barcelona remain undefeated away since Xavi's arrival.

    - Barcelona have failed to score in their last 3 La Liga games.

TEAM NEWS

      Real Sociedad will remain without Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Sola, Carlos Hernandez  and Martin Merquelanz due to injuries. Diego Rico had to be withdrawn against Cadiz after sustaining a hamstring problem. Aihen Munoz is expected to replace Rico at Left back, while the rest of the squad who played against Cadiz will be available for selection.

      DeJong and Kessie are expected to start alongside Pedri in Midfield for Barcelona, due to their positive cameos last weekend, Captain Busquets's suspension and Gavi's somewhat subpar performance against Vallecano.

      If Kounde is registered on time, he's expected to slot in the back, either as a makeshift FB in a 4-3-3 or a CB in a 3-4-3, alonside Araujo and either of Garcia or Christensen. Roberto remains an option at Right back. Alejandro Balde is tipped by many to start ahead of Jordi Alba in LB/LWB after the veteran's poor performance against Rayo.

      Lewandowski and Raphinha are expect to start In attack. Ansu Fati is also tipped to start ahead of Dembele after a bright cameo in Camp Nou.

Where are Real Sociedad vs Barcelona playing?

Location: Sociedad, Spain

Stadium: Reale Arena

Date: Sunday 21 August

Kick-off Time: 21:00 BST / 16:00 EST / 13:00 PST

VAR: Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez

Referee: Jose Luis Munuera Montero

CONCLUSION

       After finishing sixth last season, there's plenty of optimism surrounding Real Sociedad's chances of pushing for a UCL spot this season. They're a tough nut to crack and more often than not, pose a stern test for Barcelona, regardless of recent outcomes.

       Barcelona however, know that anything other than a win will be unacceptable and are expected to fight to the death for the 3 points. A very comfortable victory for the Catalans is not out of reach but may be too much to ask for at this juncture. All that matters is the 3 points.