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Barcelona vs Almeria – La Liga: TV channel, team news, lineups and prediction

Barcelona’s 2023 concludes on Wednesday evening as they play host to bottom-of-the-table Almeria in La Liga.

Xavi’s champions have endured a rocky end to the year and head into this one without a win in three gaes in all competitions. Following Saturday’s draw at Valencia, Barca are now six points adrift of league leaders – potentially for the time being – Real Madrid after they thrashed Villarreal 4-1 on Sunday.

With Xavi suffering his first difficult spell since Barca’s European exit in the spring, the former midfielder desperately needs to oversee a victory on Wednesday.

Almeria have notched just five points from 17 games this season and are without a win. Nothing less than a convincing win will do for the hosts.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Barcelona’s final La Liga fixture of 2023.

Barcelona vs Almeria H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Country

TV channel/live stream

United Kingdom

LaLigaTV, Viaplay Sports 1, Viaplay UK

United States

ESPN+

Canada

TSN+

Ferran TorresFerran Torres

Ferran Torres is deserving of more minutes / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Barca’s squad has thinned ahead of Christmas and Xavi is unlikely to welcome back any injured stars for this midweek clash.

Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Inigo Martinez are all long-term absentees, while Marcos Alonso should return in the new year.

With Barca breaking up for the festive period after Wednesday’s game, Xavi won’t make too many changes from Saturday’s XI. Ferran Torres could come in for Joao Felix.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Almeria (4-3-3): Pena; Cancelo, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Ferran.

Marc Pubill is a doubt with a knee injury and is unlikely to start. Marko Milovanovic and Luis Suarez – not that one – are both set to return from their respective injuries in the new year.

An ankle issue will likely keep Ibrahima Kone out.

Almeria predicted lineup vs Barcelona (3-4-3): Maximiano; Chumi, Montes, Gonzalez; Pozo, Robertone, Lopy, Akieme; Arribas, Baptistao, Embarba.

Barcelona may not be the most exciting of watches and their recent form suggests the atmosphere could be tense in Catalonia on Wednesday.

Fortunately, Almeria are that bad that even an out-of-sorts Blaugrana should get the job done. The visitors are winless this season with the worst-defensive record in the division. While they may get on the scoresheet, Barca surely win this with conviction, right?

Prediction: Barcelona 4-1 Almeria

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90Mins

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