SETTABLOID

FC Barcelona enter the final stretch of their La Liga EA Sports campaign with a clear objective. Finishing second is now feasible and within reach, it simply depends on how Barça themselves perform. However, with Barcelona now facing a formidable Real Sociedad side, La Blaugrana will need to be at their best.

Here is how Barcelona could line up against Real Sociedad.

Expected Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen

There is little to no doubt about who will start in goal for FC Barcelona. Despite some shaky performances as of late, the German goalkeeper remains the undisputed starter for La Blaugrana.

Right-back: Jules Kounde

The Frenchman continues to provide stability and good balance on the right flank. His versatility has been a massive gift for La Blaugrana, and Xavi may choose to continue counting on it.

Centre-back: Ronald Araujo

It seems likely that Xavi will once again entrust Ronald Araujo to lead the Barcelona defense against a formidable Real Sociedad side. Despite his occasional errors, the Uruguayan remains Barça’s most intimidating defender for opponents.

Centre-back: Inigo Martinez

Recent reports have suggested that Xavi may finally turn to Inigo Martinez to aid the team in this final stretch of the season. This would also give some breathing room to Pau Cubarsi, who can finally have some rest, and a veteran Spaniard can take his place.

Left-back: Hector Fort

After recent speculation about the defensive fragilities on the left-back position, it may be time to give Hector Fort a chance. The 17-year-old Spanish fullback possesses a balanced profile that can provide Barcelona a good defensive outlet as well.

The Danish defender-turned-pivot has become an instrumental part of Xavi’s Barcelona. His physical presence, coupled with his technical expertise, allow Barça to play with much more confidence and composure.

CM: Ilkay Gundogan

In terms of seniority and experience, Barcelona have no midfielder more proven than the German veteran Ilkay Gundogan. One of his best seasons at a personal level in terms of his statistics, he will want to keep helping the team reach their objective.

CM: Pedri

While there may be a strong case for Fermin Lopez to start this game, it must also be considered that penetrating through La Real requires a superior creative outlet that can outplay them. That is where Pedri comes in, who just so happens to be one of the best in the world at doing such a thing.

In terms of producing magic on the field, the teenage sensation that is Lamine Yamal rarely disappoints. Already at the age of 16, this left-footed young pearl has shown he can take Barcelona on his back and single-handedly change the entire outcome of games.

Centre-forward: Robert Lewandowski

The Polish striker seems to have found his shooting boots again, albeit a little too late. Despite that, Xavi’s team will need their target man to step up and deliver if the right opportunities present themselves to him.

Left-winger: Raphinha

The Brazilian winger has enjoyed a much-improved spell of form in recent outings, irrespective of what the final results of the games may have been for the collective group. However, with him in-form, it would be unreasonable to leave him out of the starting eleven.

Barcelona head coach Xavi on Sunday made clear his hope that two of the club’s most highly-regarded young talents will soon follow in the footsteps of teammate Pau Cubarsí.

The name of defender Cubarsí has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines in Catalunya’s capital across the week to date.

This comes after the 17-year-old put pen to paper on fresh Barcelona terms, through the summer of 2027.

Media chatter in the days since, though, has assured that those behind the scenes at Barca are far from finished when it comes to locking down the club’s next crop of breakthrough talent.

Real Sociedad have on Sunday unveiled their travelling squad set to face off with Barcelona in 24 hours’ time.

The final fixture of the La Liga gameweek is set to play out in Catalunya’s capital on Monday night.

The matchup in question will see the aforementioned Barcelona act as hosts, in a meeting with Imanol’s Real Sociedad at Montjuïc.

Both sides will head into proceedings eager for all three points, albeit for different reasons.

With the season soon coming to a close, FC Barcelona are scouring the Spanish market for up-and-coming talents that could improve the team in the coming summer.

Alex Baena, to that end, has emerged as one of Barça’s potential targets. The 22-year-old midfielder, known for his impressive assist record, is admired by both the sporting department and technical staff.

While Baena’s versatility – playing both as an interior midfielder and a false left winger – perfectly aligns with Barcelona’s needs. Baena, for his part, has expressed his desire to play for the Catalans in the past.

However, his hefty €55-60 million release clause presents a significant financial hurdle for cash-strapped Barça.

The astronomical asking price makes a straightforward transfer unlikely. But here’s where things get interesting: Barça might have a trump card up their sleeve.

Here’s how Barcelona can ease Baena operation

According to Diario SPORT, Villarreal are also keen to bolster their squad with young talent. Here’s where a potential player-plus-cash deal comes into play.

Villarreal have been closely monitoring several promising players from Barça’s La Masia academy who have already broken into the first-team scene.

Remember Ilias Akhomach? His recent rise to prominence serves as a perfect example. Villarreal’s interest in such players presents an opportunity for Barcelona to ease the financial burden of acquiring Baena.

Barça could thus offer a lower transfer fee for Baena, combined with one of their promising youngsters.

This move would benefit both clubs: Barcelona would land their coveted target with a reduced financial outlay, while Villarreal could secure a talented young player in addition to a significant transfer fee.

FC Barcelona reportedly has significant plans for the upcoming summer window. As per reports, the Catalan giants want to reinforce the team and make a much more competitive squad. Yet, with all their financial uncertainties hanging around, there are no guarantees for Barcelona right now.

27-year-old Brazilian winger Raphinha, for instance, is one of the names linked to a move away from Barcelona mainly due to the latter reason. Still holding a good market value, as well as a number of suitors from lucrative places, he would be a good asset for Barcelona to consider.

However, according to SPORT, the player himself has no intentions of letting such a move happen. Moreover, the report itself states that the player’s entourage has told SPORT that there is currently no consideration for a move away from the Catalan club.

Following on from yesterday’s developments in the transfer saga surrounding Robert Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona, fresh details have come to the fore on Sunday detailing how the Pole’s contract could provide him another avenue for a Barcelona exit.

Pini Zahavi, Robert Lewandowski’s agent, has shed light on the player’s immediate future. A future that involves FC Barcelona, as the Pole has no intention of moving this summer. However, the scenario might change in 2025, as Zahavi has revealed “a clause to terminate his contract” based on the minutes he plays next season.

For Xavi Hernandez and FC Barcelona to succeed next season, certain things must be guaranteed. La Blaugrana felt severely understaffed during this campaign, and the consequences have been felt. However, with Xavi guaranteed another season, Barcelona must comply with his requirements.

As highlighted by SPORT, the Barcelona coach has just recently talked about some key topics in a pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Real Sociedad. One topic that he was explicitly clear about was his satisfaction with the young starlets of Barcelona, and their respective progressions.

Speaking about the development of both Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, as well as the contract negotiation progress made towards both Hector Fort and Marc Guiu,

Barcelona head coach Xavi has this weekend received the backing of a fellow member of the manager contingent in La Liga.

The tactician in question? Imanol.

Liverpool look set to have a busy summer transfer window if the latest rumour mill has any basis of fact.

The Reds are being linked with several potential new signings for when the window reopens. It already promises to be a busy few months as the post-Jurgen Klopp era begins.

Klopp is set to depart at the end of the season and is expected to be replaced by Arne Slot in the Anfield dugout. And now reports are beginning to emerge around the players that could be signed ahead of Slot’s first season in charge.

Barcelona have reportedly moved on from showing an interest in Luis Diaz by identifying an alternative target. The La Liga giants have been heavily linked with a move for the Liverpool winger in recent month.

But according to Spanish news outlet Sport, Barcelona have decided that it is “100 per cent unaffordable” to complete a deal to sign the Colombia international. As a result, the Camp Nou club have instead focused their attention on signing Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams as an alternative.

Williams has also been linked with a move to the Reds in the past. The 21-year-old signed a new deal with Bilbao back in December that keeps him contracted to the La Liga club until 2027.

Elsewhere, one of the latest rumours centres around Union Saint-Gilloise forward Mohamed Amoura. Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Liverpool are interested in signing Amoura, and now an update has emerged.

There has been talk of a big departure from Barcelona’s forward line this summer, especially considering that the club are eyeing the recruitment of a new left-winger.

It is thus clear that no one, barring young Lamine Yamal, is untransferable from Xavi’s forward line. Robert Lewandowski, despite his numbers this season, is also not safe.

Amidst rumours of his departure from the club, however, the Polish striker has remained firm that he sees his future in Barcelona and his agent, Pini Zahavi, relayed the same in a recent interview via Mundo Deportivo.

No intent to sell

As revealed by the Spanish outlet, Zahavi spoke to Polish journalist Tomasz Wlodarczyk recently and insisted that Barcelona have no intention to sell his client this summer.

He also denied any meeting with Joan Laporta and Deco to discuss the Pole’s future, saying, “This is nonsense.”

The super-agent then remained firm that the Catalans would not ship out his client either in a bid to enable new signings or to get his hefty salary off their books.