How will Barcelona line-up against Real Sociedad?
One of the consequences of losing against Real Madrid and falling a point behind in the standings is the inability to rotate the squad. Specifically resting Lionel Messi.
The Argentine has played pretty much played every game and has had to because of the injuries to Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembélé. He had a frustrating evening against Madrid where he looked off the pace and his shooting was lower than his usual standards.
To his defense, he has been playing with a nagging injury for some time and there were reports that he was limping coming off the bus in that match. He’s likely to feature from the start once again but if anyone in that team needed a break, it’s him.
The same could be said for Antoine Griezmann but for different reasons. The Frenchman missed a good chance to put Barcelona ahead in the last match and has yet to be the player the club signed him to be.
His association with Messi is still lacking. If Messi is rested, it would allow him more space in the middle of the attack and perhaps we’d see more of the Griezmann we saw when he was with Atletico Madrid.
In the attack, the only question is whether Martin Braithwaite will be given his first start or will Ansu Fati get back in the team. Braithwaite also had a one-on-one saved by Courtiois his last time out but has played well in the minutes he’s been on the pitch.
His pace and ability to get behind the defense is an attribute the manager values and could prove beneficial if Real Sociedad try to crowd Messi out of the game.
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As far as Fati goes, the 17-year-old seems to have lost the confidence of the coach for one reason or another. If Messi or Griezmann is given a rest, he could come in to replace them. But if they both start, then Braithwaite is the likelier of the two to make up that attacking trio.
Expected Barcelona attack
Left-winger: Antoine Griezmann
Centre-forward: Martin Braithwaite
Right-winger: Lionel Messi