Xavi's Barça begins today (7:30 p.m.) against the recently promoted Valladolid in a particular marathon of matches. In 20 days, the Blaugrana will play six games between the League and the Champions League before the international break.
The match between Barcelona and Valladolid corresponding to the third day of La Liga will be played this Sunday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Camp Nou. You will be able to follow the match on television on DAZN and also through the La Vanguardia website, which will offer a minute-by-minute of the match. You can also check the classification, the rest of the results of the day and the calendar of the League and the main European domestic competitions.
The good news for the Barça coach is that for this part of the season he will be able to count on the center-back Jules Koundé, since Xavi himself considered his registration practically complete to be able to play against Valladolid after having missed the first two league games.
This will cause the Catalan coach to have up to five central defenders at his disposal: Koundé, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araújo and Gerard Piqué. Piqué, who has not yet played any official minute, is the one with the fewest numbers to start.
Xavi, who has Sergio Busquets back in midfield after serving a suspension, also has plenty of resources up front, as Memphis and Aubameyang's exits remain unfulfilled. Ansu Fati, who was a substitute against Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad, could have the opportunity of him as a starter after his great performance at the Reale Arena with a goal and two assists.
Valladolid has not scored at the Camp Nou since the 2003-2004 academic year, when the game ended in a goalless draw. Since then, Barça has won the eight games played in the Barça fief against the Valladolid side with a total of 27 goals for and 4 against.
For its part, Real Valladolid "has nothing to lose" and it does have the ambition to face Barcelona, although it travels to Barcelona with several unknowns in its training, due to doubts due to discomfort from several players, including the one who Until now, it has been the starting goalkeeper for the blanquivioleta team, Sergio Asenjo. After a week with knee problems, everything points to Jordi Masip being the one to defend the Valladolid goal at the Camp Nou.
It would not be the only change in the blanquivioleta squad, since in the absence of El Yamiq, who must serve a one-match ban after seeing the red against Sevilla, Javi Sánchez will come out in the center of the defense accompanying Joaquín, although the coach José Rojo 'Pacheta' could also count on youth player David Torres for that demarcation, which seems more unlikely.
Anuar's good performance on matchday two, with so much included, suggests his participation in the initial scheme, in which the Real Valladolid coach would once again bet on a 4-3-3, or a 4-3-2- 1, with Guardiola with more options than Sergio León as a striker, given Weissman's loss. Neither did Plata finish recovering from his ankle problem.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Araujo, Counde, Bucket; Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Dembele and Lewandowski.
Valladolid: Masip; Luis Pérez, Javi Sánchez, Joaquín, Escudero; Roque Mesa, Monchu, Aguado; Anuar, Ivan Sanchez; Guardiola.
Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou.
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque Committee).
Hours: 7:30 p.m.
