Barcelona face a delicate moment as they host Deportivo Alavés on Saturday in La Liga, after a start to the season that seemed unstoppable. Hansi Flick’s side have suffered two consecutive defeats, first against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and then in El Clásico against Real Madrid, leaving Barça with the feeling that the title race is hotter than expected.
Barcelona, who began the season with an impressive record, have seen their momentum halted and are now looking to regain confidence against an Alavés side who, despite sitting seventh in the table, are going through a difficult spell, winless in six matches, with their last victory coming on 6 September. Fans hope the team can turn the tide and return to winning ways at home, where they traditionally perform strongly.
Historically, Barcelona dominate the head-to-head, having won 36 of the 51 meetings with Alavés, who have yet to win in their last nine visits to the Camp Nou. The visitors’ poor away form, with four games without a win, and the fourth-worst away record in the league make their task in Barcelona even harder. However, Alavés cannot be underestimated because, even in poor form, they are a team who can cause problems.
Flick, who has already faced setbacks during his time at Barcelona, hopes his players do not let these defeats turn into a crisis of confidence. The head coach may make some changes to his line-up, especially with two important matches approaching. Among the talking points is the possibility of Frenkie de Jong making his first start of the season, while Gabriel Jesus and Karim Adeyemi are expected to be key figures in attack.
“We are determined to win again and show our worth,” said a confident Lamine Yamal, who, despite the pressure, is motivated to stand out and fight for the Ballon d’Or. The young winger has been one of Flick’s key choices and hopes to make a positive mark in this match.
The prediction for the match is a 2-1 win for Barcelona, but with the pressure on the team, the contest will be intense. The next steps are critical, not only for restoring the team’s confidence but also for keeping up the pressure in the title race, in a league that promises to be more competitive than expected in the opening rounds.
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