PREVIEW | Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona

After the disappointment of the first defeat of the season, at home to Real Madrid in El Clásico, FC Barcelona are in desperate need of the three points this Saturday at 9pm CEST in order to avoid drifting further from the top of the Liga table.

But they are going to have to do it against one of the most in-form sides in the championship, and who also have the frontrunners in their sights, fifth placed Real Sociedad.

The Basques have been especially strong at the Reale Arena, where they haven't lost this season. And that's a ground where Barça struggled to pick up points for several years, although in more recent visits the results have been a lot, lot more positive (the Catalans haven't lost any of their last 12 games there). More of the same would come in very nicely.

Team news

Barça have had far more than their fair share of injuries to deal with of late, but there has been some great news from the treatment room in the last couple of weeks. The services of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Koundé have been sorely missed, but they were all back for El Clásico last week, and the former two got to play some minutes towards the end. And things gets better, because on Friday it was announced that Pedri is also fully fit. He's been named in the squad, but it remains to be seen whether he will start the game or at least come on off the bench, although Xavi insists that the 20-year-old is "100 per cent ready."

It means that Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto are now the only injury concerns in the Barça camp. Reserve keeper Ander Astralaga, plus Lamine Yamal, Marc Casadó and Fermín Lopez, who are all officially Barça Atlètic players, are also named.

Real Sociedad have three players missing through injury: Mikel Merino, Ander Barrenetxea and Igor Zubeldia.

How things stand

Barça start the game seven points adrift of Girona, who came from behind to win 4-2 at Osasuna on Saturday afternoon. Real Madrid would join them on 31 points if they can beat local rivals Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night.

Barça can't catch either of those two this weekend, but they could climb back to third after Atlético Madrid, who have a game in hand, slumped to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas on Friday night.

In fifth right now are Real Sociedad themselves, who start the weekend five points below Barça, but a home win on Saturday would leave the Basques breathing right down their necks.

Did you know?

Barça have not lost on any of their last 12 league trips to the Basque Country (nine wins and three draws), and since Xavi has been manager, they have won every game played there. 13 games would be their longest ever unbeaten run in the region.

Xavi has led the team to victory in his first two games as manager in San Sebastian, and is now on the verge of becoming the first ever Barça manager to win there three times in a row.

Robert Lewandowski scored in both of his first two games against Real Sociedad and will be looking to make it three-in-a-row, something he has already done in games with Betis.

Xavi says

Speaking ahead of the game, Barça manager Xavi discussed the injury returns, and particularly Pedri, and also describes the 'raging' mood in the team camp after losing the Clásico and how desperate the players are to get back out onto the pitch and make up for their mistakes.