A recovered Barça does not want scares against Granada
BARCELONA, 10 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona receives Granada CF this Sunday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, on matchday 24 of LaLiga EA Sports, in a duel in which the Blaugranas seek a third consecutive victory that will allow them to continue in the fight for the title against a Granada that remains penultimate despite ending its losing streak with a draw.
Unequal duel in Montjuïc between a third-placed Barça that wants to win so as not to lose the lead and at least reinforce its current position, and a Granada that achieved 1 point at home against UD Las Palmas to finally smile something against a team of the upper-middle zone of the table.
This Barça recovered at the level of play and especially results, after beating Osasuna and Alavés, is also recovering at the nursing level. This day, Xavi Hernández will recover goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen, center back Iñigo Martínez and winger Raphinha.
More arguments to beat a Granada team that is eager after 2-2 in the first round at Nuevo Los Cármenes. A double by Bryan Zaragoza – who is no longer in the Nasrid team, on loan to Bayern Munich – forced Barça to look for a comeback, which was partial with goals from Lamine Yamal and Sergi Roberto.
Precisely, the captain is one of those who could also return to the team. But Xavi Hernández, who has the announcement of his departure increasingly distant and is calmer in this sense, will not be able to count on the injured Gavi, Balde, Ferran Torres, João Félix or Marcos Alonso against Granada, in addition to the suspended Vitor Roque.
The Brazilian forward, with a double yellow card in the victory against Alavés in Mendizorroza (1-3), previously scored his second goal as a Blaugrana after making his debut the previous day against Osasuna. Sensitive loss, thus, for the Blaugrana coach, who will have to once again make a 'puzzle' with what is left of his squad.
But, shortly after the Champions League returns with the match against Naples, the truth is that Barça must make the most of itself in LaLiga EA Sports and even more so against a penultimate Granada that only has 12 points (to Barça's 50). Anything other than winning would entail giving more gunpowder to an already critical environment. And even more so considering that in Granada 2 points have already been blown up.
At Granada CF, on the other hand, they know that adding is air, it is life. They are 8 points away from safety, an increasing distance, and repeating the feat of the first round against the 'culers' could be a turning point for Alexander Medina's men. A buoy to hold on to after recovering somewhat with that 1-1 against UD Las Palmas, which ended a streak of three consecutive defeats.
The arrival of several reinforcements to the team in this winter market, such as Matías Arezo, Facundo Pellistri or Martin Hongla, can give breath to this Granada that must react now to try to hold on to the key to permanence.
In Montjuïc, against a Barça that will already know what Real Madrid and Girona have done, above them in the table, the Nasrids will fight to steal points again from a Barça that, on the other hand, has between two eyebrows winning, extending its good moment and welcome back players after injury.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Iñaki Peña; Count, Araujo, Cubarsí, Cancelo; De Jong, Gundogan, Fermin; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Pedri.
GRANADA CF: Battle; Sánchez, Rubio, Miquel, Neva; Hongla, Gumbau, Sergio Ruiz; Melendo, Uzuni and Pellistri.
–REFEREE: Ortiz Arias (C. Madrid).
— STADIUM: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.
–TIME: 21:00/Movistar LaLiga TV.