Barcelona vs Real Oviedo Prediction: Lamine Yamal to impress

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Match Preview:

Barcelona's advantage at the top of La Liga was cut by a surprise defeat last weekend. They are bidding to bounce back when they host bottom club Real Oviedo on Sunday. 

On paper, this should be one of the most one-sided clashes of the season in Spain. Oviedo look like relegation certainties as they prepare to visit Camp Nou for the first time in 25 years. 

The last time these clubs met in the Catalan capital, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique were starters for Barça, but it was the Asturians who won 1-0, although the result wasn't enough to spare them relegation. 

A quarter of a century on, there should only really be one result as Hansi Flick's side return to league action after losing 2-1 at Real Sociedad. They bossed that game, creating a host of clear chances, but a combination of home goalkeeper Álex Remiro, the woodwork and some very tight VAR calls denied them even a point. 

That result has made things more interesting at the top of La Liga. Barça had won all of their previous nine league fixtures, and were threatening to run away with the title race, aided by problems in Madrid. However, that result was a timely reminder that they'll need to keep churning out the wins if they want to successfully defend their title. 

The reigning Spanish champions didn't make a great start in Prague on Wednesday either, falling behind after just 10 minutes. A Robert Lewandowski own goal added to their woes in an unconvincing first half, but the striker later scored at the right end as the visitors came back to defeat Slavia 4-2, in a major boost to their top-eight ambitions in the Champions League. 

There were no midweek distractions for Real Oviedo, but they'd have needed a few days to get over their latest disappointment. The strugglers were playing well when Alberto Reina put them 2-1 up in the 68th minute at El Sadar against Osasuna last Saturday. However, a familiar late collapse saw their opponents come back to win 3-2, with Víctor Muñoz lashing home the decisive goal in the 92nd minute. 

Since the December appointment of Guillermo Almada as Oviedo's third coach of the campaign, their level has notably improved. They'd not lost under the ex-Real Valladolid boss until last weekend, but three straight draws in truth did little to change the overall picture at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere. 

You have to go back to September, and a 2-1 triumph against Valencia, for the away team's last victory. That's one of just two wins this season for the club from northern Spain, who were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the first hurdle by minnows Ourense. 

Team News: 

Barcelona's midweek victory in the Czech capital was soured by an injury for Pedri. The Spain international is now set for several weeks on the sidelines, with Eric García, Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal the alternative midfield options alongside Frenkie de Jong. 

Ferrán Torres, Andreas Christensen and Gavi are also sidelined. We're likely to see some light rotation from Flick in between Champions League matches, with Marcus Rashford and Dani Olmo the most obvious candidates to come in. Lamine Yamal will also return after he was suspended on Wednesday. 

There are three injury absentees for Real Oviedo, with Eric Bailly, Ovie Ejaria and Rahim Alhassane set to miss out at Camp Nou. Alhassane has suffered a setback this week, which will lead to a change at left-back, with Javi López set to come in. 

Left-sided midfielder Thiago Fernández completed a loan move to Oviedo this week from Villarreal. However, he's yet to be registered, and it's unclear whether that issue will be resolved in time for the 21-year-old to play some part on Sunday afternoon.