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xavi espart
xavi espart
FC Barcelona are now facing a major injury crisis, in both defense and the middle of the park. This week brought news that key defender Xavi Espart is set for significant spell on the sidelines. Meanwhile there is some good news, with Frenchman Jules Koundé closing in on a return for Saturday’s home clash against Alavés.
Let’s get you up to speed, in the wake of the crushing El Clasico defeat, as Barcelona looks to rebound as best and as quickly as they can.
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FC Barcelona vs Alaves
Kickoff: Sat. Oct 31, 9pm CET, Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
La Liga Standing, Form: Alaves 7th, 12 pts, LDLLD FC Barcelona 1st, 27 pts, WWWWL
Google Result Probability: Alaves win 4% Draw 7% FC Barcelona win 89%
FC Barcelona Team News
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Let’s start with Espart. The 19-year-old fullback got into a duel with Real Madrid midfielder Aurelién Tchouaméni on Sunday, and it didn’t end well. It actually ended with Espart suffering a serious ankle injury; one that will keep him sidelined until mid-December.
Well, that’s the bad news. (Or the most recent piece of all the bad news)
The good news is that Kounde is coming back from the ankle sprain he suffered during in the recent La Liga win over Real Betis. He was then forced to miss the Catalan Club’s last two fixtures, the other one (outside of the Clasico) also being a loss, at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
jules kounde barca
jules kounde barca
Now to further detail that midfielder and defender injury crisis, Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia all remain sidelined, and will be for the foreseeable future.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor ofThe Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.