90min

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Osasuna - La Liga

By Grey Whitebloom

Xavi lost just two of his 26 career meetings with Osasuna as a player
Xavi lost just two of his 26 career meetings with Osasuna as a player / Aitor Alcalde/GettyImages
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Champions League-chasing Barcelona welcome Osasuna to Camp Nou for a La Liga match on Sunday night.

The Catalans were held to their first goalless draw since November by Galatasaray on Thursday despite a glut of opportunities. Wayward finishing has been a theme for Barcelona this month, converting just 6% of their attempts. This is in stark contrast to the clinical 23% of chances they finished off in February.

Here's the lineup Xavi may deploy to rediscover Barcelona's goalscoring edge.

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) - Barcelona's number one is enduring the worst shot-stopping season of his senior career, preventing only 64% of the efforts that fly on target.

Dani Alves (RB) - Left out of Barcelona's Europa League squad, Alves is all but guaranteed a domestic starting berth.

Gerard Pique (CB) - Barcelona's veteran centre-back has been booked in his last three appearances against Osasuna, conceding twice and failing to win each of them.

Ronald Araujo (CB) - Only three of the Uruguayan's teammates have tested La Liga's keepers more often this season (six shots on target).

Jordi Alba (LB) - Lionel Messi was Barcelona's leading La Liga assist provider in his final four seasons at the club, but Alba is two shy of matching his departed teammate's tally from the previous campaign.

2. Midfielders

Pedri (CM) - The Camp Nou crowd have become so enraptured by the sumptuous subtleties of Pedri's game that a nutmeg from the teenager can provoke a roar commensurate to a goal celebration.

Sergio Busquets (CM) - Granted a rare berth on the bench for Barcelona's Thursday night stalemate, a fully fit Busquets is unlikely to miss two starting XIs on the spin.

Frenkie de Jong (CM) - Only two players have found the net more often during Xavi's tenure than the steadily improving Dutchman (four goals).

3. Forwards

Ousmane Dembele (RW) - The reintegrated World Cup winner has scored or created four goals in his last three La Liga appearances.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) - The former Arsenal frontman has converted four of his ten shots in Spain's top flight.

Ferran Torres (LW) - Barcelona's winter arrival netted his first La Liga goal in two years last weekend.

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