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La Liga | Gameweek 5
Sep 21, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
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2-0

Azeez (2'), Vadillo (66' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Barcelona could line up against Granada

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Saturday night's La Liga clash with Granada.

Barcelona will switch their attention back to La Liga this weekend as the Spanish champions prepare to travel to the Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes to face Granada.

Ernesto Valverde's side opened their 2019-20 Champions League campaign with a welcome point away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

The Spanish champions beat Valencia 5-2 on home soil in the league last weekend, and they will enter this game in fifth position in Spain's top flight.

Indeed, Barca have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four fixtures this term to collect seven points - boasting an identical record to Granada ahead of this weekend's contest.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Catalan giants could line up in the league fixture.


POSS BAR XI vs. GRA

Out: Ousmane Dembele (hamstring), Samuel Umtiti (foot), Jordi Alba (hamstring)

Barca's most recent injury problem concerns Jordi Alba, who picked up a hamstring problem during Tuesday's clash with Dortmund. The Spaniard will therefore be unavailable this weekend, which should open the door for summer arrival Junior Firpo to start on the left side of the defence.

Samuel Umtiti is also out until the end of October with a foot injury, while Ousmane Dembele will again miss out despite making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring problem.

Lionel Messi played his first minutes of the season as a second-half substitute against Dortmund, and it seems likely that the Argentina international will come into the starting XI this weekend.

Luis Suarez has also now featured in the last two after a calf problem of his own, and Valverde might have the chance to send his first-choice front three - Messi, Suarez and Antoine Griezmann - onto the field from the onset for the first time.

Alba's absence means that the back five picks itself, but there remains uncertainty surrounding Valverde's midfield selection as a number of players battle for the three positions.

Arthur and Frenkie de Jong joined Sergio Busquets in the middle of the park against Dortmund, but Sergi Roberto, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal are all pushing to be involved against Granada.

It seems likely that Valverde could decide to freshen his midfield with the introduction of Roberto, while Rakitic is yet to start a game this season after a summer of speculation surrounding his future.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2Barcelona33227468392973
3GironaGirona33225669402971
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis33121384139249
8Valencia33138123738-147
9Villarreal33129125455-145
10Getafe331013104145-443
11Osasuna33116163749-1239
12AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
13Sevilla33911134246-438
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano33713132742-1534
16Mallorca33614132739-1232
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz33414152346-2326
19Granada3349203661-2521
RAlmeria33111213267-3514


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