On Sunday, FC Barcelona will continue their pursuit of the La Liga title as they welcome Real Sociedad to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. This match holds added significance for Barcelona, as they aim to exact revenge after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in the previous encounter back in November.
Fresh off a thrilling Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, Barcelona comes into this match with a mix of emotions. They played to a dramatic 4-4 draw against Atlético Madrid at their home ground on Tuesday, a match that saw them leading 4-2 with just six minutes to go, only to concede two late goals to Marcos Llorente and Alexander Sørloth. This result has left Barcelona's hopes of advancing to the final hanging in the balance, and head coach Hansi Flick will be eager to see his team tighten up defensively.
Match Details
- Date and Time: Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 10:15 AM ET
- Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- Broadcasting: The match will be available on ESPN Deportes, with streaming options on ESPN+ in the United States. Canadian viewers can catch the action on TSN+.
Barcelona's Current Form
Following a challenging winter period, Barcelona appears to have regained its form and confidence. The team is determined to secure a victory over Real Sociedad to bolster their title ambitions. With Ronald Araujo likely returning to the starting lineup after missing the midweek match, and Robert Lewandowski set to rejoin the attack, Barcelona's offensive strength looks promising. Frenkie De Jong is expected to partner with Pedri in midfield, with Pedri having delivered exceptional performances recently.
Projected Barcelona Lineup (4-2-3-1):
- Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny
- Defenders: Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde
- Midfielders: Frenkie De Jong, Pedri
- Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski
Injuries: Marc-André ter Stegen (knee), Marc Bernal (ACL), Andreas Christensen (calf).
Real Sociedad's Strategy
On the other side, Real Sociedad, managed by Imanol Alguacil, will be without star winger Takefusa Kubo due to suspension from yellow card accumulation. This absence may force the team to adopt a more defensive approach, with five players expected to fill the midfield, including the highly sought-after Martin Zubimendi. Mikel Oyarzabal, who recently scored the winning goal for Spain in the Euro 2024 final against England, will likely lead the line as the sole striker.
Projected Real Sociedad Lineup (4-5-1):
- Goalkeeper: Alex Remiro
- Defenders: Jon Aramburu, Igor Zubeldia, Aritz Elustondo, Javi Lopez
- Midfielders: Ander Barrenetxea, Pablo Marin, Martin Zubimendi, Luka Sucic, Sergio Gomez
- Forward: Mikel Oyarzabal
Injuries/Suspensions: Jon Pacheco (muscle), Arsen Zakharyan (thigh), Nayef Aguerd (yellow card accumulation), Takefusa Kubo (yellow card accumulation).
Offensive Insights
FC Barcelona:
- Barcelona leads La Liga with a remarkable goal differential, scoring 67 goals while conceding only 25.
- They have outshot their opponents by a significant margin, with a shot differential of +176, the highest in the league.
- The team has attempted 455 crosses this season, ranking fourth in La Liga.
- They have also made 846 long passes, placing them 19th in this category.
Real Sociedad:
- Real Sociedad’s goal differential is currently even, placing them eighth in the league standings.
- They average a shot differential of +0.2 per game, ranking 11th in La Liga.
- The team has attempted 436 crosses this season, which is sixth in the league.
- Real Sociedad has also made 957 long passes, putting them in 11th position in that statistic.
As both teams gear up for this critical contest, the match promises to deliver excitement and drama, with Barcelona seeking to extend their title chase and Real Sociedad aiming for a strong performance to solidify their position in the European qualification spots.
Zainab Y.
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