HP Terbaru 2023 – Barcelona host Oviedo in top vs. bottom clash

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By Filip Mishov

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Barça average 2.7 goals per match in LaLiga, while Real Oviedo have scored only 11 goals in total

Barcelona put the painful defeat to Real Sociedad behind them with a midweek Champions League win in Prague, a result that keeps them in contention for a top eight finish ahead of the final league phase round of games next week.

But before the visit of FC København, Hansi Flick‘s squad welcome bottom side Real Oviedo aiming to restore some confidence and get back to winning way in Spain’s top tier. The leaders are obviously big favourites but that being said, this is a fixture that might give Flick the opportunity to rest some of his key players.

Real Oviedo‘s return to LaLiga for the first time since 2000/01 has not gone to plan. They’ve already changed manager twice and are currently on a 14-game winless run across all competitions that stretches all the way back to September last year, when the already departed José Salomon Rondon scored the winner at Estadio de Mestalla, securing their only second victory of the season. As well as being the league’s lowest scorers, only two sides have conceded more goals than the 31 they’ve let in.

Key players

Federico Vinas is driving Los Azules’ bid for safety, as the Uruguayan striker became the first player to score in back-to-back away matches in an Oviedo’s shirt since Julio Dely Valdes back in 2000, and the 27-year-old is their top scorer, albeit with only three goals. Additionally, the on-loan forward is the second-best chance creator (15) behind Santiago Colombatto (16) and one of the leading dribblers (2.0 per 90) in the squad, earning him an average FotMob rating of 6.89 in LaLiga, which could be higher if it was not for his ill discipline – he’s already been sent off three times this season!

Raphinha continues to deliver the goods under Hansi Flick with the in-form Brazilian being Blaugrana’s second highest rated player (7.90), third-best goalscorer (7) as well as big chance creator (6) in LaLiga despite starting in only half of their league games due to his injury troubles. However, with Pedri and Ferran Torres both ruled out through injury for the next few weeks, the importance of the captain will only grow stronger.

Team news

Pedri suffered a hamstring injury in Prague, ruling him out for a month and the Spanish midfield maestro joins Gavi, Ferran Torres and also Andreas Christensen on the sidelines, while Dro Fernandez continues to be omitted from the squad amid uncertainty about his future and links with PSG.

Eric Bailly has missed the past couple of matches for Oviedo due to a thigh injury and the former Manchester United centre-back remains doubtful for the trip to Barcelona. Ovie Ejaria is ruled out as well, while the rest of their teammates are fit for selection.

Prediction

A Barca win feels inevitable given their quality and the form of their opposition, although a high scoring game might not be on the cards should Hansi Flick decide to rest some of his stars ahead of that vital match coming up in the Champions League.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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