Match Previews

country flag LaLiga Round 1
FC Barcelona vs. Alaves
Sat 18 August 2018 21:15
Referee
Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
Weather at KO
Travel Info
Distance
(Distance Matrix)

FC Barcelona

Last updated: Sat 18 August 2018 09:59
In Brief

Barcelona have no suspensions for this one. They have an injury to Carles Alena and an injury to Denis Suarez.

Looking Back

Barcelona have already played one competitive game this season, having taken part in the Spanish Super Cup, which was a one-legged match that they won 2-1 against Sevilla with goals from Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele.

Looking Ahead

In this match, Sergi Roberto will return after completing a four-match suspension. There are no other players suspended this week.

Carles Alena remains out with a long-term injury to his right hamstring.

Denis Suarez has a more minor hamstring injury and he will miss out too.

Points of Interest

Barcelona should be able to field an even stronger XI in this match than they did in the Super Cup game against Sevilla because their World Cup players will have had an extra week of preparation to help them get ready.

Alaves

Last updated: Sat 18 August 2018 09:59
In Brief

Alaves are without the suspended Adrian Dieguez for this match. They have injuries to Rodrigo Ely and Tomas Pina.

Looking Back

Alaves lost a few important players over the summer, such as Alfonso Pedraza and Munir El Haddadi, but their fans can be encouraged by the fact that they have a great coach in Abelardo, a coach who came in last autumn and who completely turned Alaves' fortunes around for the better.

Looking Ahead

Backup defender Adrian Dieguez is suspended for this one, as he must serve a yellow card accumulation suspension carried over from last season.

Rodrigo Ely has a serious knee injury and will miss five to six months.

Tomas Pina has picked up a muscle injury and is out too.

Guillermo Maripan and Ibai Gomez were doubts with an ankle and a muscle injury, but they have both recovered and are available.

John Guidetti is left out the squad for tactical reasons, although this is a surprise.

Points of Interest

Alaves only lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou last season, and the year before that they won 2-1 when they visited Barcelona in the league.

Suspended
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Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
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Suspended Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
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Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Malcom (mid) – Bordeaux; Clement Lenglet (def) – Sevilla; Arthur Melo (mid) – Gremio; Arturo Vidal (mid) – Bayern Munich; Marlon (def) – Nice; Rafinha (mid) – Inter; Munir El Haddadi (att) – Alaves, Moussa Wague (def) - Eupen.
Transfer out
  • Lucas Digne (sp) (def) – Everton; Aleix Vidal (sp) (def) – Sevilla; Andres Iniesta (r) (mid) – Vissel Kobe; Paulinho (sp) (mid) – Evergrande; Yerry Mina (sp) (def) - Everton; Andre Gomes (sp) (mid) - Everton; Jose Arnaiz (att) - Leganes.
Transfer in
  • Patrick Twumasi (att) – Astana; Jony (mid) – Malaga; Ximo Navarro (def) – Las Palmas; Borja Baston (att) – Swansea.
Transfer out
  • Christian Santos (sp) (att) – Deportivo; Alexis (sp) (def) – Al-Ahli Jeddah; Ermedin Demirovic (sp) (att) – Sochaux; Tomas Pina (r) (mid) – Club Brugge; Munir El Haddadi (k) (att) – Barcelona; Alfonso Pedraza (r) (mid) – Villarreal; Alvaro Medran (sp) (mid) – Valencia; Hernan Perez (sp) (mid) – Espanyol; Hector Hernandez (r) (def) – Real Sociedad; Bojan Krkic (att) – Stoke City, Adrian Marin Gomez (sp) (def) - Alaves.
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Malcom (mid) – Bordeaux; Clement Lenglet (def) – Sevilla; Arthur Melo (mid) – Gremio; Arturo Vidal (mid) – Bayern Munich; Marlon (def) – Nice; Rafinha (mid) – Inter; Munir El Haddadi (att) – Alaves, Moussa Wague (def) - Eupen.
Transfer out
  • Lucas Digne (sp) (def) – Everton; Aleix Vidal (sp) (def) – Sevilla; Andres Iniesta (r) (mid) – Vissel Kobe; Paulinho (sp) (mid) – Evergrande; Yerry Mina (sp) (def) - Everton; Andre Gomes (sp) (mid) - Everton; Jose Arnaiz (att) - Leganes.

Alaves

Last updated: Sat 18 August 2018 09:59
In Brief

Alaves are without the suspended Adrian Dieguez for this match. They have injuries to Rodrigo Ely and Tomas Pina.

Looking Back

Alaves lost a few important players over the summer, such as Alfonso Pedraza and Munir El Haddadi, but their fans can be encouraged by the fact that they have a great coach in Abelardo, a coach who came in last autumn and who completely turned Alaves' fortunes around for the better.

Looking Ahead

Backup defender Adrian Dieguez is suspended for this one, as he must serve a yellow card accumulation suspension carried over from last season.

Rodrigo Ely has a serious knee injury and will miss five to six months.

Tomas Pina has picked up a muscle injury and is out too.

Guillermo Maripan and Ibai Gomez were doubts with an ankle and a muscle injury, but they have both recovered and are available.

John Guidetti is left out the squad for tactical reasons, although this is a surprise.

Points of Interest

Alaves only lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou last season, and the year before that they won 2-1 when they visited Barcelona in the league.

Suspended Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Patrick Twumasi (att) – Astana; Jony (mid) – Malaga; Ximo Navarro (def) – Las Palmas; Borja Baston (att) – Swansea.
Transfer out
  • Christian Santos (sp) (att) – Deportivo; Alexis (sp) (def) – Al-Ahli Jeddah; Ermedin Demirovic (sp) (att) – Sochaux; Tomas Pina (r) (mid) – Club Brugge; Munir El Haddadi (k) (att) – Barcelona; Alfonso Pedraza (r) (mid) – Villarreal; Alvaro Medran (sp) (mid) – Valencia; Hernan Perez (sp) (mid) – Espanyol; Hector Hernandez (r) (def) – Real Sociedad; Bojan Krkic (att) – Stoke City, Adrian Marin Gomez (sp) (def) - Alaves.

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players
Game Score
Round 1
FC Barcelona - Alaves 3 - 0
Real Madrid - Getafe 2 - 0
Round 2
Real Valladolid - FC Barcelona 0 - 1
Round 3
FC Barcelona - Huesca 8 - 2
Round 10
FC Barcelona - Real Madrid 5 - 1