BARCELONA are back in LaLiga action TODAY after a stunning Champions League win in the week.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski helped himself to a hat-trick in the 5-1 battering of Viktoria Plzen, and a trip to Cadiz is here now for Xavi’s side.
But Lewandowski has been dropped to the bench for today’s match 0 with former side Bayern Munich on the horizon next week.
- Kick-off: 5.30pm
- TV/live stream: Premier Sports 1
- Cadiz XI: Ledesma; Zaldua, Luis Hernandez, Mbaye, Pacha Espino, Alex Fernandez, San Emeterio, Alejo, Sobrino, Ocampo, Lucas Perez
- Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Bellerin, Pique, Araujo, Sergio, Ferran, Memphis, De Jong, Raphinha, Balde, Gavi
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
Cadiz stats
Cadiz are bottom of the LaLiga table after a rough start to their campaign.
The Pirates have lost all four of their opening league matches to Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo.
Sergio Gonzalez’s side has also conceded a staggering 10 goals so far this season.
To make things worse, Cadiz haven’t scored a single goal yet!
Credit: GETTY Barcelona stats
Barcelona got their season off to a strong start as they are so far undefeated in LaLiga.
Barca have won three out of four matches and are second in the table behind defending champions Real Madrid, who have emerged victorious out of all four of their games so far.
The Blaugrana have scored a whopping 11 league goals and have conceded only once against Real Sociedad.
Barcelona’s attack has been vastly improved following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha as they also destroyed Viktoria Plzen with a score of 5-1 in their Champions League opener
Credit: GETTY Cadiz formation
Cadiz manager Sergio Gonzalez appears to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Barcelona.
Jeremias Ledesma starts between the sticks with Joseba Zaldua at right-back and captain Alfonso Espino on the other side, while Luis Hernandez and Mamadou Mbaye link up at centre-back.
Alex Fernandez and Fede team up in midfield with Ruben Sobrino at No10.
Ivan Alejo covers the right flank with Brian Ocampo on the other side, while ex-Arsenal ace Lucas Perez spearheads the attack
Barcelona formation
Barcelona manager Xavi appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Cadiz.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen starts in goal with ex-Arsenal star Hector Bellerin making his debut at right-back and Alejandro Balde on the other side, while Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo team up at centre-back.
Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and captain Sergio Busquets link up in midfied.
Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Memphis Depay lead the attack as Robert Lewandowski is being rested ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich
Cadiz subs
3 Jarque, 4 Alcaraz, 6 Bejarano-Serrano, 10 Bongonda, 12 Alarcon, 13 Gil, 17 Mabil, 18 Negredo, 19 Gimenez, 20 Carcelen, 21 Arzamendia, 32 Chust
Cadiz XI
1 Ledesma; 2 Zaldua, 23 Hernandez, 5 Mbaye, 22 Espino; 8 Fernandez, 24 Fede; 11 Alejo, 7 Sobrino, 14 Ocampo; 15 Perez
Barcelona subs
7 Dembele, 8 Pedri, 9 Lewandowski, 10 Fati, 15 Christensen, 17 Alonso, 18 Alba, 19 Kessie, 23 Kounde, 24 Garcia, 26 Pena, 36 Tenas
Barcelona XI
1 Ter Stegen, 2 Bellerin, 3 Pique, 4 Araujo, 5 Busquets, 11 Torres, 14 Memphis, 21 De Jong, 22 Raphinha, 28 Balde, 30 Gavi
The team sheets are in!!!
Head-to-Head
Barcelona and Cadiz’s first ever meeting took place way back in 1977 in a LaLiga match that saw the former winning 2-0 away.
Since then, the two sides have faced off a total of 28 times with Barca winning a majority of 19 games, compared to the Pirates’ mere four wins.
One of Cadiz’s few victories took place last season in their most recent meeting as they beat the Blaugrana 1-0 at the Nou Camp.
The hosts also picked up a shock 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla only two years ago.
The visitors have a better head-to-head record but shockingly haven’t beaten Cadiz since 2006, as they lost two out of their last four meetings
Credit: GETTY Good afternoon from Cadiz
Welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of the LaLiga clash between Cadiz and Barcelona at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.
Barca manager Xavi will be without Sergi Roberto, who is sidelined with a muscular injury he sustained against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League last week.
However, the Spanish tactician dismissed fears regarding Roberto’s fitness as he insisted that his injury is not serious.
The Blaugrana may be keeping one eye open on their upcoming Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, whom they are facing on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena.
Therefore, Xavi may rest a few of his big names, such as Bayern legend Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele.
Former Arsenal ace Hector Bellerin and ex-Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso were not involved against Plzen due to their late arrivals, but both have been named in Barcelona’s squad today.
Cadiz boss Sergio Gonzalez, on the other hand, will again be without Jon Ander Garrido as he is still nursing a knee injury.
Ruben Alcaraz remains a doubt but other than that the hosts seem to be in good shape for this big match.
Sergio is expected to make some changes today and could bring in former Arsenal ace Lucas Perez, Ruben Sobrino and Alex Fernandez
Credit: GETTY
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
