Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. (Photo : Getty Images)
Defending Spanish top flight champions FC Barcelona (2-0-0, 6 points) will meet last season's Segunda Division champions Deportivo Alaves (0-0-2, 2 points) in a match scheduled at the Camp Nou this Saturday, Sep. 10 as the 2016-2017 La Liga season moves forward.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:30 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
The two clubs had both been unbeaten so far after two weeks of competitions this term, with Barcelona on a two-game winning streak while Alaves managed to string two stalemate matches.
Barça was able to escape with a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Aug. 28 on the road at the San Mamés Stadium with main man Lionel Messi nursing a groin injury, as per CBS Sports.
Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic headed the lone goal of the contest at the 21st minute for head coach Luis Enrique's side, which proved to be the winning goal as both teams were unable to score again after that.
It was a big drop of form for the back-to-back La Liga champions after opening their season with a masterful 6-2 victory over Real Betis.
Messi and his striking partner Luis Suárez were both held scoreless by Athletic Club as well as Neymar's fill-in, Arda Turan.
Despite fatigue from international duty, the Brazilian skipper is reportedly set to return in this match against Alaves, but Messi is doubtful to appear as doctors advised him to rest so that his groin injury will not get worse.
Meanwhile, newly-promoted club Alaves held Sporting Gijon to a goalless draw at the Estadio Mendizorrotza also on Aug. 28 to keep themselves unbeaten in their first two game in the Spanish first division domestic competitions, via SkySports.
Head coach Mauricio Pellegrino's squad pulled off a stunning 1-1 draw versus title-favorites Atletico Madrid in their season-opener and is surely a dangerous team if taken for granted.
Despite Messi's projected absence, the Catalan giants are still the favorites to win in this match with Neymar and Suárez together up front. The two players are expected to be joined by Turan once more as Enrique and his crew go for their third consecutive win.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-0 romp for Barcelona.
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, D. Suárez; Turan, L. Suárez, Neymar
Alaves starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Pacheco; Femenia, Laguardia, Alexis, Hernandez; Llorente, Sanchez; Mendez, Torres, Gomez; Deyverson
