PREVIEW | Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona have been in fantastic form of late, and the idea is to keep it going this Sunday when they visit San Sebastian, home of Real Sociedad (9pm CET, this way for our international guide to times and broadcasters).

The team has won its last seven games in La Liga and the Champions League. But it's not just that, but also the margins of the victories. In fact, Hansi Flick's team has scored more goals in its first 16 competitive games (a quite staggering 55) than any other Barça team has ever scored before. And it's even more than that. Those wins have come in some big, big fixtures, including a 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu of all places, and a 4-1 trouncing of a side that has been their nemesis in recent years, Bayern Munich.

Since those historic games, Barça have beaten Espanyol 3-1 in the local derby, and they're now fresh back from Belgrade, where they won 5-2.

How things stand

Thanks to their Clásico and derby wins, Barça came into the weekend a full nine points clear of Real Madrid, although the side in second place do have a game in hand. The gap has hopefully only temporarily narrowed to six points after the all-whites comfortably saw off Osasuna 4-0 on Saturday, with Vini Jr netting a hat-trick.

Once this weekend's games are finished, that's it for another fortnight as La Liga takes its final break of the year for international fixtures.

Real Sociedad

The place where Barça will be looking to continue their winning streak is the Reale Arena. Fresh in the memory are times when the Catalans struggled immensely away to Real Sociedad, going for eight games without a single win from 2011 to 2016. How things have changed since then, with Barça unbeaten in ten visits, the last six of which have all been wins.

Real Sociedad are on a far less positive run in their stadium, having only won one of the seven competitive games played there this season, including a 2-0 defeat to Osasuna the last time they played in front of their own fans. Fortunately for Imanol Alguacil and his players, Real's away form has kept them alive in La Liga, gathering enough points to just about scrape their way into the top half of the table.

Real are coming into this game after a morale boosting 2-1 win at Sevilla last weekend, although midweek they slumped to a Europa League defeat by the same scoreline at the home of Viktoria Plzeň.

But scoring goals against Real is no easy matter. They may not be challenging for the top positions, but with just ten goals conceded this season, they have the third best defensive record in La Liga. That's actually one goal fewer than Barça. The Basques' problem is not stopping goals, it's the fact that they're not scoring many either.

Team news

All of Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Ferran Torres, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss out yet again.

Pau Cubarsí required stitches on a cut to the face sustained in Belgrade, but it is unlikely to affect his availability for selection and could join a select group of blaugranes to play wearing a mask. Dani Olmo has been feeling unwell, but has been included in the squad, but Héctor Fort is left out due to lower back pain.

But the home side are also decimated by injuries, with none of Nayef Aguerd, Ander Barrenetxea, Benat Turrientes, Pablo Marin, Hamari Traore or Arsen Zakharyan likely to be involved in Sunday's game.

Hansi says

"Although we are doing very well, I really like Real Sociedad. Their style appeals to me ... The entire stadium will be supporting them, and there will be a great atmosphere. They know how to press. It’s important to play with confidence and maintain possession. That’s what we aim to do: stick to our game plan, with and without the ball."

"Step by step. Match by match. That’s the key. We’re not looking back. We’re focused on the next game. Everyone is focused on that. They’re not thinking about how well they’ve played in the last six matches; they’re thinking about the next one. Real Sociedad will be a tough challenge."