Barcelona will try to extend their good streak at the Reale Arena against Real Sociedad, who are going through a very different situation. The ‘txuri urdin’ team is the team that has scored the fewest points at home in the League and has only scored ten goals in twelve games, a scarcity that contrasts with the abundance of the leader, Barça, which with 40 goals is the most scorer of the competition and also stands out as the best visitor (18 points).
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To face this match which, if they win, would mean the eighth consecutive victory for Hansi Flick’s team, Barça will not have Lamine Yamal in the starting eleven. Although he traveled to San Sebastián, the club reported that the footballer, who yesterday did specific work in the gym, suffered a bruise on his right ankle during the match against Red Star.
“He has followed conservative treatment but the discomfort persists. The player is out and his progression will determine his availability,” reads the club’s statement. However, Lamine Yamal, who was supposed to go to Las Rozas on Monday to concentrate with the Spanish team, is a doubt for the two Nations League games. In San Sebastián, Fermín López will take his place and will occupy the left wing while Raphinha will move to the right with Lewandowski, who has 19 goals in 16 games.
Dani Olmo, unwell yesterday, will not be in the eleven either. Flick has chosen Pedri to occupy the midfield with De Jong and Marc Casadó completing the midfield. On the other hand, Pau Cubarsí will be there. The young centre-back trained on Saturday with a protective mask after receiving stitches last Wednesday after a Red Star player stabbed his studs into his face. The Masia center back will play alongside Iñigo Martínez. Alejandro Balde returns to the eleven in the left lane and Koundé will occupy the right.
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The eleven of FC Barcelona: Iñaki Peña; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Casadó, De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Fermín López.
The Real Sociedad eleven
The match has many incentives for the Gipuzkoans, since to the bad streak at home (only six victories in the last calendar year) is added another curse: that of not beating the culé team since January 4, 2015.
To do this, Orio’s coach, Imanol Alguacil, will have almost the entire squad available, with the exception of the already known absences of Hamari Traoré and Beñat Turrientes.
The Real Sociedad eleven: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Aihen; Brais Méndez, Zubimendi, Sucic; Kubo, Becker and Oyarzabal.
Alguacil will have the pieces at his disposal to line up the most starting eleven possible, despite the fact that the team is immersed in a process of recomposition and searching for a playing identity after a turbulent summer with many ups and downs.
Until recently, San Sebastián was one of the most unfortunate trips of the season for Barça, which went on eight visits without winning between 2011 and 2016 (five defeats and three draws), but this dynamic has recently reversed, as the Barça team has nine games without losing at the Reale Arena (seven wins and two draws).
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