Barcelona wants to return to the top of La Liga on Sunday afternoon when they organize Real Sociedad in the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Company. The results of Saturday, in which Real Madrid was beaten at Real Betis with Atletico Madrid who won at home at Athletic Club, mean that the Catalans would make an end to the top if they were to be the victor.
Both Real Madrid and Atleti rested and rotated before their Champions League confrontation on Tuesday, and with Barcelona who accepted Benfica in the competition in the midweek, it is also expected to make some changes – although Hansi Flick has unveiled that there would not be much.
According to Sport, there will be a total of four of the side that traveled 4-4 with Atleti in the Copa del Rey earlier this week. In defense, Inigo Martinez and Alejandro Balde will stop to be replaced by Ronald Araujo and Gerard Martin, while Gavi will return to midfield instead of Dani Olmo. The last change would be with Spits, with Robert Lewandowski who starts for Ferran Torres.
La Real is also in European promotion next week while hosting Manchester United in the first of their Europa League round of 16 draw. As such, important changes are also expected to be made by head coach Imanol Alguacil, who is already without the suspended trio of Nayef Aguerd, Takefusa Kubo and Sheraldo Becker.
Martin Zubimendi is expected to start, but no risks will be taken with Mikel Oyarzabal, which is mentioned in the matchday team, even though he has suffered discomfort in recent days.
It should be an interesting spectacle at the Estadi Olimpic. Barcelona are big favorites to achieve a different victory, and as such are their place back at the top of La Liga, but despite the fact that it has had a bad season so far, Real Sociedad is able to make things very difficult for the Catalans.
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