Barcelona will be looking to make it eight straight wins in all competitions when they travel to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
The Catalan giants are currently top of the table with 34 points, while Sociedad sit fourth having picked up 27 points from their first 16 matches of the 2019-20 campaign.
Match preview
Boasting 27 points from their 16 matches this season, Sociedad are fourth in Spain's top flight heading into the next set of matches. They are only four points off third-placed Sevilla, who are one of just three teams - the other two being Barca and Real Madrid - to win more league matches than the White and Blues this term.
Sociedad are seven points off Barca with the champions having a game in hand, but there is no question that the Basque club will be encouraged by their form during the 2019-20 campaign.
Imanol Alguacil's side have only lost once in the league since the end of October, which came away to Real Madrid on November 23. Since then, they have beaten Eibar and drawn with Real Valladolid.
Saturday's match is actually Sociedad's penultimate La Liga fixture of 2019, although they will be in Copa del Rey action next week before finishing their year at Osasuna on December 22. A positive result against Barca could see them close the gap on Sevilla, who host Villarreal on Sunday night.
The omens are not exactly terrific for the home side, though, considering that they have lost their last five La Liga matches against Barca. That said, the Basque side did record a 1-0 win on home soil in April 2016, while they also held the Spanish giants to a 1-1 draw in November 2016.
Barca have not always been at their free-flowing best this season, but the Spanish champions will enter this match off the back of a seven-game winning run in all competitions.
Ernesto Valverde's side have not actually lost a single match since Levante beat them at the start of November, winning their last four in the league to hold first position despite the form of Real Madrid.
Both Barca and Los Blancos have 34 points from their 15 matches this season, with the former boasting a record of 11 wins, one draw and three defeats. The Catalan side only lost three league games in the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign, which shows that they have not been quite in full flow this term.
Sociedad will be the fresher of the two teams considering that Barca were in Champions League action against Inter Milan on Tuesday night - recording a 2-1 win - but Valverde made a number of changes for the clash in Milan.
Lionel Messi also now appears to be fully over his early-season injury problems, with the 32-year-old, who was rested against Inter with one eye on this contest, scoring 14 times in his 15 appearances at club level during the 2019-20 campaign.
Real Sociedad La Liga form: LWDLWD
Barcelona La Liga form: WLWWWW
Barcelona form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Team News
Sociedad have no fresh injury concerns from the side that drew 0-0 with Valladolid last weekend, although Ruben Pardo, Asier Illarramendi and David Zurutuza are still unavailable for selection.
Central defender Robin Le Normand will also serve a one-game ban after picking up a booking last time out, but Joseba Zaldua will be available having served a suspension of his own against Valladolid.
Willian Jose should again lead the line for the home team, while on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard is also expected to keep his spot in the starting XI.
Barca, meanwhile, will again be without the services of Ousmane Dembele due to a hamstring problem, while Arthur is still struggling to overcome an adductor issue.
Nelson Semedo remains absent due to a calf injury, although Jordi Alba is making progress in his recovery from a muscular problem and could potentially be involved this weekend.
Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez will all return to the XI having been left out of the side against Inter, but Antoine Griezmann should keep his spot in the final third.
Rest Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Zaldua, Llorente, Gorosabel, Monreal; Portu, Odegaard, Guevara, Merino, Oyarzabal; Willian Jose
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Firpo; De Jong, Busquets, Rakitic; Griezmann, L Suarez, Messi
We say: Real Sociedad 1-2 Barcelona
It would not be a surprise to see Sociedad pick up a result, but it is difficult to back against Barca considering their form. We fancy the Spanish champions to put another three points on the board.
body check tags ::
