Cartagena vs Barcelona 14/11/19

14 November 2019

With almost the entire first-team squad out for the international break, the under-strength Barcelona will take on the lower-league outfit Cartagena in a friendly match at the Estadio Municipal Cartagonova.

Currently competing in the Spanish Segunda Division B, the hosts go into this clash on a run of nine successive games without a loss (W7, D2). More importantly, the ‘Efesé’ have not conceded a single goal during that streak, with five of their wins ending with the identical 1-0 scoreline. Cartagena’s game usually sparks into life in the second half, as seven of a total of nine goals they’ve scored in that sequence have come after the break. But, the Estadio Municipal Cartagonova has not been a venue of entertainment this term, as none of Cartagena’s six home games since the turn of the season featured more than two goals.

Fresh from a 4-1 dismantling of Celta Vigo at home, the Catalans will be looking to extend their winning run in H2Hs with Cartagena to three straight matches. Both of their previous H2Hs have seen Barcelona score 3+ match goals and restrict the underdogs to a maximum of one goal per game. Still, Ernesto Valverde’s men have endured mixed fortunes away from home this term (W3, D2, L3), drawing a blank three times across those fixtures. But, if the reigning La Liga holders win here, it will probably see the hosts ship at least two goals, as all three of Barca’s away wins this season witnessed them net 2+ match goals.