In the Round 13 of La Liga, Barcelona will be aiming for their 15th victory of the 2024–25 season across all competitions when they play Real Sociedad on Sunday.
With three significant victories in the last two weeks against RCD Espanyol, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, and banging 5 goals in the Champion league against Red Star Belgrade, the Blaugrana enter the match at the Reale Arena, Donostia-San, full of confidence.
They have scored 29 goals in their last 5 games, only conceding 5 goals.
As a result, Hansi Flick’s team is the clear favorite to return with three points tomorrow, despite the fact that they will probably face a formidable, possibly even hostile, scene in Reale Arena.
In the current 24-25 season, Barcelona has now caught their opponents offside 103 times. That is the most offside any team has ever caught.
Even though Ferran Torres, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, Ronald Araujo, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all out for Barcelona going into the match. Barcelona has a solid backline with Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Alex Balde.
As the players outperform Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League match, Flick might try to make a few changes to the starting lineup today. This is Barcelona’s possible lineup for tomorrow’s match against Real Sociedad.
DEFENCE
Goal keeper
The wait for the debut of emergency signing Wojciech Szczesny is still ongoing since Inaki Pena is anticipated to keep his place in the Barcelona lineup due to his excellent play in goal when Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out.
RB
Kounde started the match and contributed three assists against Red Star Belgrade. He had the game’s highest rating of any player. As a result, Flick will not disappoint him; he will start the match against Real Sociedad.
CB
Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez, who have excelled as Barça’s center-back duo, are unlikely to be replaced as they have started their last eight matches together. Despite the fact that Pau Cubarsi had facial stitches. Flick will not risk benching him because of his commitment and tenacity. He will start the game with his mask on.
LB
During the game against Red Star Belgrade, Balde was rested. Gerard Martin was the starting LB. However, he did not perform well, so things did not proceed as planned. A lot of supporters were upset with Flick for starting him rather than Balde. Alejandro Balde will therefore start against Real Sociedad today.
MIDFIELD
The manager is probably going to make some adjustments in the midfield area.
Flick is quite impressed with Pedri’s gameplay, which has been playing like Prime Iniesta. Thus, Pedri will start against Real Sociedad.
Casado would have to start over, as he has been brilliant in his last matches.
Since Frenkie Dejong is not happy with his limited playing time, he would have loved to start against Real Sociedad, but Flick would not risk him playing a lot of minutes because he had just recovered from the injury.
Dani Olmo started and stole the show against Espanyol on Sunday and was rested on Wednesday’s match against Red star Belgrade as he had just returned from an injury. Now that he is fully fit to start the game, Olmo will start the game against Real Sociedad.
Gavi and Pablo Torre will be options from the bench again, and Olmo might get some minutes too.
Front 3
RW
The 17-year-old wonder kid, Lamine Yamal who got 6 goals and 8 assists across all competitions in the 24-25 season should start on the right side, as he is irreplaceable due to his extraordinary form.
CF
The Blaugrana’s attack will once again be led by Robert Lewandowski, who is the La Liga’s leading scorer right now with 14 goals.
LW
Since Raphina has been a key player and captain, he ought to start the match against Real Sociedad. He assisted and scored in his most recent match against Red Star Belgrade.
Raphina has already scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 16 games for Barcelona, indicating that he is in peak form.
Less playing time has disappointed Ansu, but he has not been playing well, so Flick might give him an opportunity later in the game.
