Barcelona vs. Malaga: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Barcelona go hunting for revenge as they take on Malaga in their first home game of the 2015/16 La Liga campaign.
Revenge because Javi Gracia's well-drilled side were the last to take three points from Camp Nou after Juanmi's early goal gave Los Boquerones a deserved 1-0 victory in February.
Revenge because Barcelona were made to look completely ordinary in their fixture in September at La Rosaleda, bringing to an end their 100 percent record in the league to that point.
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Revenge because Malaga were the only side who Barca failed to score against in their treble-winning season.
Once again, however, it won't be a walk in the park for a team that is a little makeshift in the defensive areas at present. A 0-0 draw for Malaga in their season opener against Sevilla was a fine way to start, and Gracia will ensure that his side haven't come to Barcelona to make up the numbers.
If the Catalans want the victory, then they will have to earn it.
Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 3/Sky Sports 3 HD (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (USA only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only)/beIN Sports Connect (USA only)
Form Lines
| Barcelona | Malaga |
| W 1-0 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao | D 0-0 vs. Sevilla |
| D 1-1 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao | W 2-0 vs. Lekhwiya |
| L 0-4 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao | W 3-1 vs. Al Wasl |
| W 5-4 vs. Sevilla | W 3-1 vs. Club Atletico Penarol |
| W 3-0 vs. AS Roma | D 0-0 vs. San Lorenzo |
| L 1-2 vs. Fiorentina | L 2-3 vs. Deportivo Cali |
Predicted Formations
There is no reason to think that Malaga will shift from the 4-4-2 that won them a well-deserved point against Sevilla in week one.
Duje Cop and Charles can give Barca's creaking back line the runaround with the right service, and in Gerard Pique's absence, this will be another chance for Thomas Vermaelen to stake a claim. Javier Mascherano will partner the Belgian with Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto providing the width and support in attack.
Despite the ankle injury suffered against Athletic Club, Sergio Busquets is fit enough to resume his defensive midfield duties, allowing Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta to get in amongst Sergi Darder and Fernando Tissone.
Malaga's midfield spine is strong, and where possible, Barca need to shift the play to the wider channels.
Neymar finally returns from an extended spell on the sidelines to complement the talents of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Marcos Angeleri is no spring chicken at the heart of Malaga's defence, and Suarez should find rich pickings if he exploits the space well enough.
Carlos Kameni is a custodian who was well up to everything thrown at him from a Barca perspective last season. If he can play as well again, the visitors can prosper once more.
Player to Watch
Cop enjoyed a reasonable start to his Malaga career against Sevilla.
Although not on the scoresheet, the 25-year-old loan signing from Dinamo Zagreb was busy and industrious throughout.
A player who scored 22 goals in 25 starts last season, he can play across the front line and quite obviously knows where the goal is. Sharp, quick and with excellent movement, he will force Barca's defence to keep tabs on him throughout.
A fearlessness to his play is another string to his bow. No respecter of reputations, a goal or two on his Camp Nou debut will be a real feather in the Croatian's cap.
Key Battle
The first meeting between the sides last season was notable for the debut of Douglas in the absence of an injured Dani Alves.
History repeats, but with both Brazilians on the sidelines, Roberto will be asked to fill the right-back slot. How he deals with Nordin Amrabat down that channel could determine the outcome of this one.
The youngster has to produce a performance similar to that from the last fixture at San Mames, Roberto winning a deserved man-of-the-match accolade.
Starting on the front foot, if Roberto reproduces the effervescence normally seen from Alves, then Amrabat's influence on proceedings is largely moribund.
Arguably this next month of fixtures provides Roberto a chance to play for his future and give Luis Enrique some food for thought.
Odds
The following pre-match odds are available, per Oddsshark:
Barcelona Win: 100/1111
Malaga Win: 22/1
Draw: 17/2
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