Barcelona vs Racing Santander Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Barcelona have again been brilliant to watch at the start of this season as the back-to-back Spanish champions now welcome Racing Santander to Camp Nou.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Barcelona preview: Brilliant Barca
In their opening six matches across all competitions, Barcelona have scored 26 goals with six successive wins with the Blaugrana scoring five in four of those games before notching four against Levante at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia at the weekend.
Up against an enterprising Levante side the other day, Barcelona won by four goals to two in a game in which Hansi Flick will probably be very frustrated with how open Barca were at times against the Valencians throughout that victory.
Racing Santander preview: Back in La Liga
Following their long-awaited promotion back to La Liga, Racing Santander have started the season steadily with some impressive results and strong performances at home, which continued with a victory in Cantabria the other day.
Up against in-form surprise package Deportivo Alaves, Racing won by two goals to one at El Sardinero as Yasser Zabiri backed up a hat-trick scored against Elche a couple of weeks ago to notch a match-winning brace in that one.
Barcelona team news: Gerard Martin a doubt
In the wars against Levante at the weekend, La Masia graduate Gerard Martin is now a doubt in defence for Barca with both Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji remaining sidelined for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Christensen, Alex Balde; Pedri, Marc Bernal; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Adeyemi; Raphinha
Unavailable: De Jong (Injured), Bardghji (Injured)
Questionable: Gerard Martin (Injured)
Racing Santander team news: Andre Almeida suspended
Having arrived on loan from Valencia on the final day of the summer transfer window, the versatile Andre Almeida was sent off at the weekend and is now missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Julen Agirrezabala; Alvaro Mantilla, Pablo Ramon, Belocian, Jorge Salinas; Ivan Martin, Prati; Pablo Garcia, Sergio Canales, Inigo Vicente; Zabiri
Unavailable: Eriksson (Injured), Almeida (Suspended), Andres Martin (Injured)
Questionable:
Barcelona vs Racing Santander prediction
Hansi Flick is wedded to his extreme high-line at Barcelona and it has proven effective and extremely entertaining domestically but they can be punished, as Levante and Rayo have done with two goals scored against the Catalans. However, they will out-score pretty much everyone in La Liga so while Racing will be confident that in-form Zabiri can himself punish Barca in behind, the hosts should still run out to a fun win once again.
Barcelona vs Racing Santander tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals
