By Karl Matchett
All Barca can do for now’s proceed attempting to take most factors in their very own fixtures, with a house match in opposition to relegation-threatened Leganés certainly an ideal alternative to rebuild a successful run.
Leganés have been within the second tier for the previous 4 years so there’s not a lot latest face to face type to talk of, promoted final time period after successful La Segunda, however of their squad there stay a handful of notable gamers together with former Schalke star Matija Nastasić and a hyperlink to their weekend hosts in ahead Munir El Haddadi. The Moroccan left Barca in 2019 after breaking by as a teen, and whereas it hasn’t maybe gone to plan in his profession as early expectations urged, he stays an skilled attacker within the high flight with maybe some extent to show.
Current type
After an impressive begin, Flick’s facet have taken a success in league type of late, although a late win at Dortmund in Europe this week was a major increase. A shock dwelling defeat to Las Palmas solely a fortnight in the past reveals they don’t seem to be the completed product although and there stays scope for enchancment.
As for Leganés, they’ve solely received three all season within the high flight and people have all come at dwelling – but on the highway it’s solely three defeats in eight, as they show the draw masters of LaLiga. All the identical, they sit seventeenth after 16 video games, with two groups under them having matches in hand. It’s one other robust weekend in a troublesome general marketing campaign, with goalscoring a specific hassle for them thus far.
Crew information
Barcelona stay with out goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, defender Andreas Christensen, midfielder Marc Bernal and winger Ansu Fati. Raphinha took a knock in opposition to Dortmund however might play anyway, as Flick appears to get his workforce again to successful methods on the home entrance.
Valentin Rosier is absent by suspension for Leganés, whereas Dani Raba and Enric Franquesa are out injured.
Participant to observe
No have to overthink this one – Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal have expectation on them, particularly if Raphinha misses out, nevertheless it’s a assure of targets they should win the sport. Robert Lewandowski already has 16 LaLiga targets this time period from an xG of 15; that’s averaging out at higher than a aim per 90 minutes, 3.6 pictures per 90 and really almost 2.0 per 90 on track. The Polish attacker is taking part in a extra refined, restricted sport beneath Flick and it’s maintaining him in essentially the most harmful areas of the pitch extra usually – and he’s arising with the products to justify his place and his wage. Maintain feeding him probabilities and Barcelona will extra possible than not keep high.
Prediction
We’ll go together with a house victory with room to spare. Barcelona 3 Leganés 0.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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