Barca hosting Alaves with a totally new lineup
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 12.11.23. | 15:36
The Catalans are welcoming back Pedri into the starting lineup
It was October 2021 when Alaves came to Nou Camp and managed a surprise draw (1-1) with the Catalans. It was a surprise draw considering the strength of both teams, especially since Alaves got relegated that season, but on the other side was a vulnerable Barca, who had just sacked Ronald Coeman after losing against Rayo Vallecano the week before. A temporary solution in the form of interim coach Sergi Barjuan was found until Xavi resolved this contract situation with Al Saad and took over the team. But a remarkable transformation happened since, and the proof will be visible today: None of the 11 players who started against Alaves in 2021 will be in the team tonight!
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To be completely precise, there are only two players who ‘survived’ Xavi’s purge: Marc ter Stegen and Gavi (suspended for this game and won’t participate). Other nine players are on loans (Eric Garcia – Girona, Nico González – Porto, Sergiño Dest – PSV) or have retired (Gerrard Pique, Sergio Aguero), sold (Mingueza, Memphis Depay) or left as free agents (Jordi Alba, Busquets). Out of the substitutes that day, Balde is still here and is as starter, while Coutinho, Lenglet and Abde are gone.
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One of the 11 players who will start today is Pedri. Barcelona’s star is a real difference-maker, and the stats confirm that. Overall, Barca won 68.4% of the games in which Pedri played, while victories without him were reduced to 57.1% of the games. Last season, the stats were even worse: With Pedri, 14.3% of games were lost, while without him, the defeats rose to 33.3%, almost double.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 13
Friday
Athletic Club - Celta Vigo 4-3 (2-2)
/Sancet 37, Guruzeta 45+5, 52, Berenguer 90+8 pen - Aspas 25, Bamba 41, Larsen 66/
Saturday
Rayo Vallecano - Girona 1-2 (1-1)
/Garcia 5 - Dovbyk 42, Savio 65/
Almeria - Real Sociedad 1-3 (0-0)
/Arribas 76 - Oyarzabal 62, Fernandez 90+1 pen, Zubimendi 90+5/
Granada - Getafe 1-1 (1-1)
/Villar 45+4 - Mayoral 2/
Osasuna - Las Palmas 1-1 (0-0)
/Budimir 73 - Moleiro 70/
Real Madrid - Valencia 5-1 (2-0)
/Carvajar 3, Vini 42, 49, Rodrygo 50, 84 - Duro 88/
Sunday
18.15: (1.25) Barcelona (6.00) Alaves (11.0)
20.30: (2.20) Sevilla (3.50) Betis (3.50)
23.00: (1.37) Atl.Madrid (5.10) Villareal (7.75)
***odds are subject to change
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