When Barcelona travels to El Sadar to play Osasuna on Tuesday night, they will have the opportunity to move five points ahead atop the La Liga standings. Barcelona will play their final match before the league breaks for the World Cup in Qatar.
After losing their previous 2 league games—being kept to a draw by Girona and falling to Rayo—champions Real Madrid had given up the lead at the top of the standings. Barça will remain in first place until the conclusion of the action in Qatar with a victory at Osasuna. But the Catalans are too knowledgeable to anticipate an easy match.
The Navarran team is currently in 5th position and having an excellent season, so if past results between both the two teams are any indication, Barcelona will have to be at its best to defeat their hosts.
With Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto, and Jules Kounde all out hurt, there’s a fair probability that Gerard Piqué’s talents may be required for the final occasion. Xavi has chosen 22 participants for the match, with Piqué among them.
Due to the absence of Frank Kessie and Memphis Depay, the reserves Marc Casadó and Chadi Riad have been called up.
Prior to the game, Xavi called his team’s opposition a very talented team, but added that his team was determined to score all 3 points and take the lead at halftime. Osasuna are a challenging foe and are in strong form. We would love to earn the 3 points first before World Cup begins, but we are also.
We’ll see since Piqué is available for play. We are in contact with Araujo and the Uruguayan federation regarding him. The player’s best interests should always come first, so do that. Although neither Koundé nor Memphis have any significant injuries, it is still best to take your time. Last year, we pushed Memphis too hard.
The World Cup won’t lead the players to slow down, in my opinion. This game will demand all of your intensity because injuries happen when players don’t give it their all.
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