FC Barcelona eye 3 points in difficult visit to San Sebastian

MADRID: FC Barcelona face one of their most difficult tests between now and the end of the season when they travel to play Real Sociedad in San Sebastian to close the 28th round of La Liga action on Sunday night.

By the time the game kicks off Barca will know the results of both Real and Atletico Madrid and could find themselves seven points off the top of the table if Atletico beat struggling Alaves (as they are expected to do).

If Atletico take all three points against Alaves, then anything other than a win in San Sebastian is a disappointment for Barcelona, but the last 10 years have not been kind to them in the Anoeta Stadium.

Barca went from 2010 until 2018 without winning away to Real Sociedad, although that tendency has changed in the last three years and Real Sociedad have not beaten Barca since Imanol Alguacil took over as Real Sociedad coach.

The two sides have already met twice this season, with Barcelona winning 2-1 in the Camp Nou, before sneaking through on penalties after 120 minutes produced a 1-1 draw in the semifinal of the Spanish Supercup played in Cordoba.

Barca are still without Gerard Pique, Philippe Coutinho, Ansu Fati and Sergi Roberto, although Sergi Roberto was able to take part in his first training session in six weeks on Saturday after suffering a relapse of his hamstring injury.

Ronald Koeman is likely to continue with his policy of three central defenders, with Sergino Dest and Jordi Alba as wing backs and Frenkie de Jong given permission to push forward when he wants to. Real Sociedad have lost hard running midfielder Jon Guridi to a groin injury, but should have David Silva available after he hurt his back during last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Granada.

Imanol's side will play the 2020 Copa del Rey final against Basque rivals Athletic Club Bilbao on April 3. The coach admitted in his pre-game press conference that some players are already thinking about that historic event. Agencies

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