Barcelona vs Alaves prediction, odds and preview

Barcelona return to La Liga and host Deportivo Alaves at the Olympic Stadium after a disappointing 1-0 loss in midweek to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League.

Following a 1-0 win at Anoeta thanks to a stoppage time Ronald Araujo header, Barca maintained their place on the standings in La Liga yet were far from convincing away from home having registered their first shot on target after 89 minutes of action.

Deportivo Alaves take on Barcelona having edged past Almeria in a narrow 1-0 victory last weekend after beating Deportivo Murcia 10-0 in the first round of the Copa del Rey.

Luis Garcia’s side will look to stun the hosts after the visitors held the Catalans to a one-all draw at Camp Nou in the 2021/2022 season and registered a famous away victory in September 2016.

Despite conceding 16 goals in the League, Alaves have only netted 10 times in La Liga this season alongside Cadiz and Las Palmas.

Barca have suffered only one defeat in La Liga this season, while the visitors have only one win in their last six La Liga matches and Xavi will look to re-establish Barca’s style of possession and positional play against the newly promoted side.

Barca will be without three midfielders in Frenkie De Jong, skipper Sergio Roberto and Pablo Gavi who sustained a yellow card against Real Sociedad last weekend as Pedri Gonzalez could be handed his first La Liga start since his return from injury.

Barcelona will be determined to bounce back to winning ways and maintain their fight as Champions in La Liga yet could be stunned at home by an in-form Alaves side considering their poor run of form recently.

The match is scheduled for a 3:15 pm kickoff.