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Emotional return for Eusebio, but Barca clear favorites against Real Sociedad

Xinhua, November 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona can end a magnificent week by moving nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga if they are able to beat Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

   Barca kicked off the week by beating Real Madrid 4-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and followed that triumph up with a 6-1 thrashing of Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday night to show they are reaching peak form.

   Not only are Luis Enrique's side at their best, but Leo Messi has returned from his knee injury and as he showed with a brace of goals against Roma, he is anxious to make up for lost time.

   In Messi's absence, Luis Suarez and Neymar led from the front, with both in spectacular form and it was interesting to see against Roma how his return did nothing to disrupt their understanding on the pitch.

   The trip are likely to start together against Real Sociedad, while coach Luis Enrique has to make a decision over the fitness of Javier Mascherano and Sergio Roberto, who suffered knocks against Real Madrid and Roma respectively.

   While Mascherano is a guarantee in central defense or in midfield, Roberto has been the revelation of the season for Barca, showing a massive improvement in both confidence and form and offering extra aggression and energy when he is on the pitch.

   If Mascherano doesn't recover, the Barca coach has options in defense with either Jeremy Mathieu, Marc Bartra, who on Thursday said he needed more matchtime, or Thomas Vermaelen, who is also available after injury, ready to step into action.

   Real Sociedad travel to Barcelona with an extra dose of confidence after new coach Eusebio Sacristan was able to debut by leading the club to their first home win of the season last weekend as two goals from nine-goal striker Imanol Agirretxe saw them defeat Sevilla 2-0.

   It will be an emotional return to the Camp Nou for Eusebio, who was a member of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' and Barca and whose last job was as coach of the Barca B-team team for three seasons, but his side need to do something very special if they are to frustrate Barca this time.  Endi