This Wednesday, December 20, Barcelona hosts Almería at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, in a match corresponding to matchday 18 of the League. Xavi Hernández’s team hopes to regain victory against the bottom team so as not to definitively leave the fight for the title.
And Barça is third in the standings with 35 points (with a balance of 10 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses), 9 points behind the leader and seven behind Real Madrid. A new puncture could be devastating for the Catalans’ aspirations in the domestic competition and above all for the emotional state of their players.
The culés have had only one victory in the last four league games (they beat Atlético, drew against Rayo and Valencia and lost against Girona). Poor results to which we must add the defeat suffered in the Champions League against the weak Antwerp.
Nor should we forget that Barcelona faces Almería, a team sitting in the last position of the standings after failing to win a game so far in the League. The five points that Gaizka Garitano’s team has managed to earn have come from draws (two of them in the last five games).
For the Andalusians, salvation is eight points away, so a defeat against Barça, and if their direct rivals do their homework, could be an almost definitive blow when half of the championship has not yet been completed. Montjuic does not seem like the best setting to start the reaction, but achieving a point would be quite a challenge that would undoubtedly give oxygen and encouragement to the red and white team.
Both coaches will have to rack their brains to make the starting eleven due to the absences they have for the match in Montjuic. The latest setback for Xavi is Pedri, who suffered discomfort again in training on Tuesday. Gavi, Marcos Alonso, Íñigo Martínez and Ter Stegen are also out due to injury, while Frenkie de Jong is out due to suspension.
For his part, Garitano will not be able to count on the injured Lucas Robertone (also suspended) such as Gonzalo Melero, Luis Suárez, Marezi, Marc Pubill or Koné. Many absences of the scoring men.
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández (Balearic School)
The match between Barcelona and Almería, corresponding to matchday 18 of the League, will be played this Wednesday, December 20, at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium starting at 7:00 p.m.
Barcelona – Almería can be followed live on television through Movistar. Likewise, you can follow the match minute by minute through EL MUNDO live.
