Luis Enrique goes back to his roots as Barca prepare to face Sporting

FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique returns to his roots as coach for the first time in his career as his side play away to Sporting Gijon on Wednesday evening.

The game was due to be played in December, but postponed due to Barca's involvement in the World Club Championship in Japan and now Barca have the chance not only to get it behind them, but also to see where they stand in relation to Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who could find themselves six and seven points respectively should Barca win in the El Molinon Stadium.

Barca will be without Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto in Gijon with Jeremy Mathieu expected to cover at left back, but a lot of the questions in Luis Enrique's press conference were about his past at the club where he began his career.

"I consider myself to be 1,000 percent from the city and I consider it to be my home, but Barca is my job and the job is what matters," he said, admitting he had also been a Sporting club member since he was a boy.

"I used to go to the ground carrying a flag my mother made for me and then watch the games from the noisiest part of the stands. I was born a Sporting fan and I will be one until the day I die," he added.

However, sentiment apart, Luis Enrique viewed the game as a chance to open up a clear lead at the top of the Primera Liga table.

"At last we can recover the game that we missed and we will be able to see how the championship stands. It will give us the chance to distance ourselves, although it will be hard because Sporting are one of the most intense sides in the league, so we will have to play well and create a lot of chances," he warned. Enditem