Match Preview : Barca VS Granada

After a week of rest and recuperation, we’re finally back in La Liga action after our first midweek break in months. It’s a rest that this team was in desperate need of and also a chance for us to get back some players who were out injured. In another huge game this season, tonight at Montjuic, its Barca VS Granada. Live from 9pm local time.  Like ive said, its another key game in our league season. Granada aren’t going to be an easy task. I dont think we can particularly feel over confident against anyone. But, we’ve got some important players coming back, and the home fans behind us. Let’s jump straight into it.

A Quick Look at our opponents :

Granada find themselves firmly in the bottom half of the table, 6 points off bottom spot. One of their most impressive players, in fact, one of the breakout stars so far, Bryan Zaragoza. He’s left for Bayern  in January. So they are lacking that spark. Which has only been proven in their recent run of games. Over the course of the season so far, they’ve scored a total of 23 goals and conceded almost double. 45 goals conceded which makes them the team with the 3rd worst defence in the whole league. Only Almería and Villlareal have conceded more. 

Predicted lineup:

We have some great news coming into the game tonight with both Raphinha and Ter Stegen back in action and back in the squad. Both are brilliant additions, for 2 very different reasons. Yamal has played a lot of football, so having raphinha back means we can start to rest and rotate again. And with Ter Stegen, its more experience, quality and a big relief for most of us that we dont have to rely on Pena too much anymore. Hes done a decent job standing in, but he’s obviously nothing like Ter Stegen and its great to have him back.

Romeu is the only one expected to be out of the squad tonight, as he was absent from group training yesterday. In terms of the lineup. I think in defence things will remain relatively the same from our last game. With Kounde at right back, Araujo and Cubarsi in the centre. And probably Hector Fort at left back, as Canceló still isn’t fully fit. Although he will be in the squad. What’ll be interesting to see is if Christensen starts as our defensive midfielder again. I personally think its an idea we should be going along with.

He had a solid debut against Alavés and allowed the rest of the midfielders to play with more freedom. So id keep with it. Sadly Roque wont be available after that absolute disgrace of a decision last weekend from Martinez Munuera. The ref who sent Roque off for nothing at all. He’ll be back for our next game, but its a shame he’s been taken out of tonight’s one. Marc Guiu could get minutes a s a result though. 

My starting lineup:

Ter Stegen 

Kounde- Araujo- Cubarsi- Fort

Gundogan- Christensen- Frenkie

Raphinha- Lewandowski- Pedri 

Ryan Edwards