Barcelona’s Redemption Bid: Xavi Rings in Changes for Alaves Clash
In the quest for a turnaround after two recent defeats, Barcelona enters a crucial clash against Alaves on Sunday with a revamped lineup. Manager Xavi Hernandez has implemented significant changes from the midweek loss to Shakhtar Donetsk, introducing key alterations to bolster the team’s performance.
The standout adjustment sees Pedri earning his first start in nearly three months, joining Fermin Lopez in midfield to replace Oriol Romeu and the suspended Gavi. Further alterations include Lamine Yamal and Joao Felix stepping in for Raphinha and Ferran Torres in the attacking front, while Jules Kounde and Inigo Martinez take defensive roles from Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso.
The decision to keep Alejandro Balde on the bench follows his exclusion from Spain’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers. Alaves, eyeing back-to-back wins in Catalonia, aims to exploit any uncertainty in the Barcelona camp. On-loan forward Samu Omorodion secures a starting position after being on the bench against Almeria last weekend.
While Barcelona remains the favorite to secure victory, Xavi and his squad face mounting pressure after a recent string of subpar performances. Alaves aims to capitalize on this vulnerability during the 90 minutes at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
