Barcelona will take on Deportivo Alaves at the iconic Spotify Camp Nou in an exciting La Liga clash on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams will be searching for a positive result with Barcelona aiming to maintain their title challenge after a disappointing Champions League defeat, while Alaves look to upset one of Spain’s finest teams.
Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 29th November.
- Kick-off: 3:15pm BST.
- Venue: Spotify Camp Nou.
Barcelona team news
Barcelona could hand a return to Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford. Rashford missed the league match against Bilbao last week due to the flu. The English international made an immediate impact since joining on loan and is eager to continue his form. Ferran Torres added two crucial goals in the 4-0 demolition of Athletic Bilbao and is expected to be available for selection.
However, Hansi Flick’s squad continues to face significant injury challenges. Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen remains sidelined due to a back operation and is unavailable until later in the year. Spanish midfielder Pedri is a major doubt with a muscle injury, though his availability will be confirmed closer to kickoff. Central midfielder Gavi will miss the encounter as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, with his expected return scheduled for early 2026.
Alejandro Balde has overcome a hamstring injury that forced him out for a month earlier in the campaign.
Deportivo Alaves team news
Alaves face a difficult assignment but defender Nahuel Tenaglia has sent a defiant warning to Barcelona’s camp.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, the Argentine defender stated: “We are going to go and do our job, to compete at 110% and to bring a victory from the Barcelona stadium that would be very nice for us. We have to respect them off the pitch, but inside we are 11 against 11, we have to go and defend our own and bring the three points.”
The Basque side will be central defender Nikola Maraš, who is a doubt with a ligament issue. Striker Toni Martínez carries uncertainty over a shoulder problem, though further confirmation can only be shared after the pre-match press conference. These absences will further hamper Alaves’ defensive organization against Barcelona’s potent attack.
Form
Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s side returned to the Camp Nou for the first time since 2023 with a dominant 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao last Saturday. The Catalan giants secured a crucial win over Athletic Club and stormed to 31 points from 13 matches, positioning themselves just one point behind leaders Real Madrid.
However, Barcelona suffered a sobering 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities against elite European opposition.
Despite this setback, the club’s domestic form remains formidable, with four wins in their last five La Liga matches showcasing their attacking prowess through their devastating trio of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha. These three players have combined for 33 goals this season—70% of Barcelona’s total goals scored.
Deportivo Alaves
Eduardo Coudet’s side continues to struggle, sitting 14th in the La Liga table with a mere 15 points from 13 matches. Alaves’ recent form is deeply concerning. They have lost their last two league encounters—a 1-0 defeat to Celta de Vigo at home last weekend highlighted their inability to break down compact defences. The Basque club has scored just 11 goals in 13 matches, averaging fewer than one goal per game. Their negative goal difference of -1 reflects consistent struggles in both attacking and defensive phases.
Predicted lineups
Barcelona: Garcia; Koundé, Cubarsí, Araujo, Balde; López, De Jong; Yamal, Raphinha, Rashford; Lewandowski.
Deportivo Alaves: Tenaglia, Sedlar, Abqar, Mouriño; Vicente, Blanco, Guevara, Stoichkov; Martínez, Kike García.
How to watch Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves?
The La Liga clash will be broadcast on DAZN in select regions. Exclusive coverage is available on LaLiga+ for subscribers in certain markets.
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