Barcelona vs Eibar: Predicted line-up as crucial week looms ahead

EIBAR, SPAIN - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, Sergio Alvarez of Eibar during the La Liga SmartBank match between Eibar v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on October 19, 2019 in Eibar Spain (Photo by Ricardo Larreina/Soccrates/Getty Images)
EIBAR, SPAIN - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, Sergio Alvarez of Eibar during the La Liga SmartBank match between Eibar v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on October 19, 2019 in Eibar Spain (Photo by Ricardo Larreina/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 15: Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Getafe at the Camp Nou on February 15, 2020 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 15: Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Getafe at the Camp Nou on February 15, 2020 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Who will partner Gerard Pique?

Barcelona beat Getafe 2-1 in their last match but it came at a cost. Jordi Alba suffered an injury early in the match and had to be replaced by Junior Firpo. He’s going to miss this and the matches against Napoli and Real Madrid.

The other issue is who will the other center-back be aside from Gerard Pique. Both Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet are one yellow card away from being suspended. That means whoever starts, if they pick up a caution, will be out for the Real Madrid match.

At right-back, Nelson Semedo had been playing well but saw Sergi Roberto play against Getafe. Roberto played well enough and scored the team’s second goal. With Jordi Alba out, Junior Firpo will get another chance to impress. The only question is whether the back-up, Sergio Akieme, will see any minutes.

Expected backline:

Right-back: Sergi Roberto
Center-back (right): Gerard Pique
Center-back (left): Clement Lenglet
Left-back: Junior Firpo