FC BARCELONA: THE CATALAN PHOENIX RISING FROM THE ASHES.

   

  To say that it's been an emotional rollercoaster to be affiliated with FC Barcelona in recent times would be one of the biggest understatements in the world of sports. Disastrous management, financial turmoil, humiliations at the biggest stages, losing the greatest player of all time in an underhanded manner, going without silverware twice in three years, enduring cock-and-bull stories concocted by the media about the club and its players; it's been a series of more lows than highs for culers. Despite all this, FC Barcelona retains one of the greatest pulls by a football club and one of the largest fanbases. 

    Of course, rivals would've loved to see Barcelona down in the dumps for the next 5 years. However, since the arrival of Laporta, Alemany and Xavi, we've seen the constant ridicule turn to borderline abhorrence. That right there, was the first sign of progress. At this point, one can be permitted to think that Barcelona is the most loved football club in the world and at the same time, the most hated.

    The business savvy of Laporta and Alemany, combined with the football savvy of Xavi, have ensured a very decent winter and summer transfer windows, creating a Barcelona team that could go down as one of the most feared Barcelona sides in history. And they aren't done yet! It also showed that while Barcelona might've been at the receiving end of the most epic let-downs in recent history, it hasn't lost its lustre one bit, much to the chagrin of its rivals, as we've seen from the outcries all over Europe.

    Admittedly, the club has taken a huge gamble in ensuring immediate and long-term success, and this is a project that is bound to have a few bumps in the road, as we've seen this season. But as we all know, just like everything else in life, fortune favours the brave. High risk yields high rewards. And like a phoenix rising from the ashes, FC Barcelona look poised to shake off all the bad times and emerge once again as Europe's greatest football powerhouse. Rivals beware. The comeback is always stronger than the setback.

Força Barça 🔵🔴

    

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.