Barça seeks to complete the party against Real Sociedad
The people from San Sebastian, who have not won in Barcelona since 1991, are fighting to continue in the ‘Champions area’
BARCELONA, 19 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad will live an emotional meeting this Saturday (9:00 p.m.) at the Spotify Camp Nou, on matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander, with a prior tribute in the prolegomena to the deceased Ferran Olivella and Iñaki Alkiza and, whatever happens , final party to celebrate the title, achieved last day, for a Barça that will try to continue being the ‘black beast’ of the people from San Sebastian, who are fighting for the ‘Champions’.
It might seem that there is nothing at stake at the Spotify Camp Nou, but that is not the case. Barça is already champion of LaLiga Santander, thanks to the victory on the last day in the derby against RCD Espanyol (2-4), but it has yet to continue fighting for minor goals that are now gaining weight, while Real Sociedad is looking for 3 gold points to retain his fourth place and his ticket to the European elite.
The blaugrana are fighting to be the team in the major European leagues with the fewest goals conceded, and incidentally, Marc-André Ter Stegen achieves the record for goalkeepers to ‘0’ in LaLiga. On the offensive side, another challenge is to help Robert Lewandowski to retain the ‘Pichichi’ that he currently occupies thanks to his 21 goals in the championship.
And, by the way, they seek to end this League, won with four games to go and ending a three-year drought, with as many points as possible. That pride and that honor that are always at stake and that must continue to be there to dignify the championship and the rival, which is at stake.
Real Sociedad, who comes from beating Real Madrid (2-2) and drawing against Girona (2-2) at the Reale Arena, is fourth with 62 points, 7 behind Atlético de Madrid third and with 5 points of margin on the Villarreal, fifth and maximum rival right now of the ‘txuri-urdin’ in the fight by the League of Champions.
In addition, the people from San Sebastian are looking to put an end to a very long losing streak at the Camp Nou. In fact, they have not won in the blaugrana fiefdom in the League since 1-3 on May 18, 1991, and they have not tied since 1-1 on April 9, 1995.
Imanol Alguacil has not beaten Barcelona in his 9 league matches (1 draw and 8 losses). And, also counting the games in Donostia, Barça have not lost any of their last 13 games in LaLiga (11 wins and 2 draws), since a 1-0 defeat in April 2016.
The clash will begin with a minute of common silence in memory of the former FC Barcelona player Ferran Olivella and the former president of Real Sociedad Iñaki Alkiza, both of whom recently passed away. It will be the emotional and solemn part, before the match, and which will give way to the final party after the match.
Sergio Busquets, in his penultimate game at home before leaving Barça, will receive the LaLiga trophy in the box and from the hands of Luis Rubiales (RFEF president). Already in the green, the party will have a lap of honor and speeches by ‘Busi’ and the coach, Xavi Hernández.
A coach who will not be able to dispose of the suspended Gavi or the last-minute injured Ronald Araujo –with some discomfort in the calf in his left leg– and Pedri –with discomfort in his right thigh–, so he will have to improvise more still, especially in midfield.
The novelty above could be an Ousmane Dembélé who is already more driven after his injury and who has participated in four goals in total in his last five games against Real Sociedad in LaLiga, with three goals and one assist.
On the San Sebastian side, the main loss will be that of David Silva, touched and which will be reserved for Tuesday, despite the importance of this clash. And the curiosity will be to see Martín Zubimendi acting as ‘5’ at the Spotify Camp Nou, where some place him as a replacement for Sergio Busquets.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Christensen, Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba; Busquets, De Jong, Sergi Roberto; Dembélé, Lewandowski and Ansu Fati.
REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro; Gorosabel, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Aihen Muñoz; Zubimendi, Illarramendi, Merino; Kubo, Sorloth and Oyarzabal.
–REFEREE: Alberola Rojas (C. Castellano-La Mancha).
–STADIUM: Spotify Camp Nou.