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Barca look to overcome tired legs to move 9 poinnts clear

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona face the longest league trip of the season on Saturday as they look to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga.

Wednesday's 3-1 win away to Sporting Gijon means Barca have not played the same number of games as title rivals, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who both play their respective matches (against Villarreal and Malaga) on Sunday.

That means victory in Las Palmas will put Barca 9 points clear for 24 hours at least and pile the pressure on their pursuers, if coach Luis Enrique is able to ensure his side are still fresh after a daunting 2016 schedule.

Barca's run to their third consecutive final of the King's Cup knockout tournament, plus the midweek trip to Gijon means they have played two games a week since the start of 2016, a total of 14 matches in just 7 weeks and Saturday will be number 15.

Luis Enrique rested Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta and Sergi Roberto in midweek and they will presumably all return on Saturday with Adriano, Aleix Vidal, Jeremy Mathieu and Arda Turam stepping down.

Sergi Busquets is also out through suspension and the Barca coach could consider resting Gerard Pique ahead of next week's difficult Champions League clash away to Arsenal on Tuesday night.

Las Palmas meanwhile receive Barca in the relegation zone after last weekend's 2-0 defeat away to Sevilla, which was a game which just about summed up their season. Short of cash Quique Setien has a side built around home grown talent such as Jonathan Viera, who are capable of playing bright attacking football, but who just lack the bite in attack to hurt more powerful rivals.

Las Palmas will try and maintain their passing game on Saturday, which should provide for an entertaining game, but if they try to swap blows against Barca's firepower, the chances are they will come of worse. Endit