Barcelona Aims for Tenth Consecutive Victory Against Real Sociedad

Barcelona visits San Sebastián this matchday in the midst of their best performance of the season, enjoying a particularly successful phase in their recent history. The Catalonian club, fresh off their Supercopa de España triumph and through to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, boasts nine consecutive victories in La Liga and eleven overall.

In contrast, Real Sociedad is struggling to find consistency this season, marking it as Matarazzo’s fourth match at the helm of the Basque team.

Barcelona remains undefeated since November 25, following their Champions League clash against Chelsea. They have secured 11 victories across all competitions since then, with their current La Liga streak standing at nine wins. Aiming for their tenth victory would solidify their position at the top of the league table.

The Catalan side approaches the match in excellent form, with several key players having been rested recently. Manager Flick rotated the squad during the Copa del Rey round against Racing, allowing key figures such as Pedri, Fermín, Eric, and Raphinha to recuperate. However, Raphinha did not train on the pitch yesterday and remained in the gym, raising doubts about his starting status. It is likely that he will travel with the team but may not start the match.

Real Sociedad is eager to face Barcelona, hoping to build on the positive results and improved gameplay observed since Matarazzo’s arrival. Their recent performances have yielded a point against Atlético de Madrid and three last-minute points against Getafe, alongside a Copa del Rey victory via penalties. This momentum could help them distance themselves from the relegation zone and instill some hope in a season that has been largely disappointing until now.

It appears that the txuriurdin coach will field the same starting lineup that has participated in their last two La Liga matches. Thus, in relation to the Copa del Rey match from Tuesday, Jon Martín, Turrientes, Brais Méndez, and Guedes are likely to return to the starting eleven, unless he opts to continue with Zubeldia in the center of defense alongside Caleta-Car, leaving the U21 international on the bench.