Overview
- Barcelona go into the match on the back of two defeats and a long injury list that rules Xavi Espart out for around seven weeks.
- Only four senior defenders are fully fit for selection — João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín and Alejandro Balde — so Barça have trained several Barça Atlètic players with the first team.
- Flick's high defensive line depends on coordinated movement, and forced changes increase the risk of direct balls over the top and defensive disorganisation.
- Media previews expect rotation to protect key players before Champions League and Atlético Madrid fixtures, with speculation about a full debut for Brian Fariñas in a patched-back four.
- Deportivo Alavés arrive compact and pragmatic, sit seventh with no league win in six matches, and plan to exploit set pieces and counters against a makeshift Barcelona defence.