Barcelona will aim to post a sixth straight victory in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon.
Hansi Flick's side are top of the La Liga table, ahead of second-placed Real Madrid on the head-to-head record, while Real Sociedad occupy ninth, one point behind sixth-placed Vallecano.
Match preview
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Barcelona have won 17, drawn three and lost five of their 25 league matches this season to collect 54 points, which has left them top of the table, ahead of second-placed Real Madrid on the head-to-head record and one point clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid.
If fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico this weekend, then the Basque outfit would also have to be considered as serious title contenders, with a four-horse race potentially occurring in the latter stages of the campaign.
Barcelona have won each of their last five matches in La Liga and are unbeaten in six, while they will enter this match off the back of a stunning 4-4 draw with Atletico in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday night.
Flick's team are also fighting for Champions League glory this season, preparing to tackle Benfica in the last-16 stage of the tournament, with the first leg taking place in Portugal next week.
Barcelona suffered a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad when the two sides locked horns for the reverse match earlier this season, but the Catalan team were 2-0 winners in the corresponding fixture during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Real Sociedad were also in Copa del Rey action earlier this week, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final, but they recorded a 3-0 victory over Leganes in the league last weekend.
Like Barcelona, Imanol Alguacil's side are fighting on three fronts this season, with the Basque team also active in the Europa League, preparing to tackle Manchester United in the last-16 stage of the competition.
La Real have underperformed for large parts of the 2024-25 La Liga season, but they are now in ninth spot and only one point behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.
However, it is going to be incredibly difficult for them to finish higher than sixth, with Villarreal 10 points clear of them in fifth, while they are 14 points off fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, so the team will have to win the Europa League this term in order to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Real Sociedad only have the 10th-best away record in La Liga this season, picking up 14 points from 12 matches, but they will be facing a Barcelona side that have been beaten on three occasions at their temporary home in the league this term.
Team News
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Barcelona remain without the services of long-term absentees Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but Andreas Christensen has been cleared to feature after a recent injury problem.
Head coach Flick will make changes from the side that started against Atletico in the Copa del Rey, with Ronald Araujo, Gavi and Robert Lewandowski in line for recalls after being named on the bench last time out.
Inigo Martinez, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres are likely to be the three players to drop down to the bench, but Frenkie de Jong should retain his spot in the middle of the midfield due to his recent strong form.
As for Real Sociedad, Sheraldo Becker and Takefusa Kubo will miss Sunday's match through suspension, but Igor Zubeldia will be available after serving his La Liga ban against Leganes last time out.
Javi Lopez is set to return to the team at left-back, having been named on the bench against Real Madrid, while there should also be a recall in a wide area for Sergio Gomez.
Martin Zubimendi - thought to be a long-term transfer target for Barcelona - will again feature in the middle of midfield, while Mikel Oyarzabal is likely to be the given the nod over Orri Oskarsson at centre-forward.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, J Lopez; Barrenetxea, Marin, Zubimendi, Sucic, Gomez; Oyarzabal
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Real Sociedad
Barcelona have lost three league matches at home this season, but the Catalan giants are in excellent form; we are expecting Real Sociedad to give their fans a goal to cheer on Sunday, but Flick's side should navigate their way to a very important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
