Barcelona: After thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 La Liga and destroying AS Roma 6-1 in a home Champions League game, FC Barcelona intends to take advantage of their happy group to seek another big win against Real Sociedad on Saturday in the domestic competition.
They will continue to lead the standings if they secure three points at the Camp Nou stadium and widen the gap ahead with the second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona is buckling up for Sociedad’s clash on Saturday with strikers Neymar and Luis Suarez up front, who have scored 12 and 11 goals, respectively over the past 12 rounds of the matches, while superstar Lionel Messi is also getting ready to lead the roster after making a full recovery.
It seems that Barcelona coach Luis Enrique intends to give no quarter against Real Sociedad, which is struggling to escape from the shadow of the relegation zone, in the light of the absence of its midfielder Asier Illarramendi due to suspension.
As for Atletico Madrid, Argentine manager Diego Simeone looks forward to winning its upcoming game against Espanyol at their Vicente Calderon stadium, despite missing defender Gabriel Fernandez Arenas.
Real Madrid hope to escape from its humiliating defeat against Barcelona during the previous round, as well as the painstaking 4-3 win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, when they meet Eibar on Sunday.
This upcoming away clash will not be an easy job for their coach Rafael Benitez, who will have to figure out how to fill the defensive gap with Sergio Ramos, Isco, Marcelo and Varane absent.
Elsewhere, Villarreal will be aiming to win when they visit Getafe on Sunday.
Celta Vigo will have an easy task against Sporting Gijon following last week’s 0-2 shocker against Deportivo La Coruna, who will be playing against La Palmas.
Valencia will be visiting Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in what promises to be an intense match. The La Liga weekend will also witness a match between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Bilbao, with both teams seeking at least to secure their positions in the middle of the table.
“The defeat to Barcelona is in the past, we need to look forward. Now we have a tough game away from home,” Real coach Rafa Benitez said.
“I am here for what Benitez tells me to do, he is a great coach. We are with him, with the president and the fans. Staying together I am sure we will win.”
However, Madrid can expect an extremely tricky test against an Eibar side that are surpassing all expectations on just their second season in the top flight and currently sit sixth.
“It is difficult for any team to play at Ipurua. We are playing really well and have the confidence that we can get something positive from the game,” Eibar midfielder Adrian Gonzalez told the club’s website.
Madrid have mounting injury problems in defence as Raphael Varane came off against Shakhtar with a hamstring problem, whilst Sergio Ramos and Marcelo are also out.
Isco is banned after his frustrated kick out at Neymar last weekend. However, Eibar are also without one of their key creators through suspension in Keko Gontan.
In contrast to Madrid’s woes, Barcelona’s week just got better after inflicting a thrashing at the Bernabeu as they stuck six past Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi scored twice on his first start following a two-month injury layoff as did Luis Suarez to take Messi, Suarez and Neymar’s combined tally for the calendar year to an incredible 121.
Yet, Barca boss Luis Enrique urged for caution amid claims Barca could go onto repeat their treble winning feats of last season.
“These players are very intelligent and they know perfectly that we are in the first third of the season and the best is still to come.
“It is a pleasure when you have the profile of the players we have and things go as you want. I am sure that at some point it will turn in the other direction and you need to be prepared to overcome all the moments.”
Next in Barca’s firing line are Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
However, Sociedad did make a good start to life under former Barca B coach Eusebio Sacristan with a 2-0 win over Sevilla in their first game since the sacking of David Moyes.
The on-form Sergi Roberto is a doubt for Barca, but Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta are expected to return after being left out in midweek.
Atletico Madrid are Barcelona’s closest challengers at the top of the table and Diego Simeone’s men will be confident of holding onto second place when they host Espanyol hoping to extend a nine-game unbeaten run.
Meanwhile, Sevilla and Valencia meet on Sunday night hoping to get their lacklustre seasons going with both coaches Unai Emery and Nuno Espirito Santo’s jobs under pressure.
— IANS
