Barca start their new La Liga season against Real Betis

Barcelona are all set to kick start their 2017/18 La Liga season as they play Real Betis at home. Clearly Barcelona are the favorites to get the three points.

Kick-off : 8:15 PM (Local)

Venue : Camp Nou, Barcelona

Barca were embarrassed by Real Madrid in the recently concluded Supercopa de Espana. Ernesto Valverde might want to ease the tension at Camp Nou with a win against Betis.

It’s been a difficult first summer in charge for Valverde, with a departure of Neymar to PSG. And now the losses in the Supercopa El Clasico’s against arch rivals Real Madrid.

I think Ernesto Valverde needs to get things right quickly for Barcelona or else he will be under a lot of pressure at Nou Camp.

Barca signed Paulinho from the Chinese Super League amidst lot of criticism. Luis Suarez will now be out for a month, while Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta are struggling with fitness problems and will not be available for the La Liga opener.

Their is not much movement in terms of the transfers of Ousmane Dembele or Philippe Coutinho amidst a lot of talks.

Team news and possible line-ups 

Junior Firpo and Ryad Boudebouz will not be featuring due to fitness problems for Betis on Sunday.

Adan should keep for Real Betis against Barcelona. Barragan and Durmisi should be the full-backs, while Mandi and Feddal should be the central defensive pairing.

I think the manager might play a 4-4-2 formation. Then Tello and Leon should be forming the front line.

As for Barca, Paco Alcacer will be featuring on Sunday in place of Suarez who injured his knee in the second leg of the Supercopa.

Semedo, Mascherano, Umtiti and Alba should be the four defenders. Whereas Messi, Alcacer and Deulofeu should be the front three.

Barcelona XI : Ter Stegen, Semedo, Mascherano, Umtiti, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Gomes, Messi, Alcacer, Deulofeu.

Real Betis XI : Adan, Barragan, Mandi, Feddal, Durmisi, Garcia, Guardado, Joaquin, Camarasa, Tello, Leon.

Prediction

I think if it goes to plan then Barca should win this comfortably. It will probably be a 3-0 scoreline in favor of Barcelona.