Breaking Down Barcelona's Remaining La Liga Opponents
Barcelona are edging closer towards another La Liga title and the countdown to the end of the season has already begun.
Just five games separate the Catalans from league glory and they can't rest on their laurels with Real Madrid poised to take advantage of any slip-ups.
On paper, all but one of the remaining fixtures wouldn't appear to present too much of a problem to a side who are amongst the form teams in Europe in 2015.
But we all know that anything can, and often does, happen in football and complacency has lost many a team titles or league placings.
Luis Enrique and his side have been peerless during the latter part of this campaign. Let's take a look at the five sides hoping to knock Lucho from his perch...
Getafe
This game perhaps gives Enrique the chance to rotate.
And how times change. There'll be no complaints this time if the manager chooses to utilise his full squad against a side that have never won at Camp Nou.
Barca will have learned lessons from their visit to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez earlier in the campaign.
On that occasion, the Blaugrana strutted in, and walked back out with their tails between their legs after an insipid 0-0 draw.
With only 28 goals to their name during this campaign, the minnows of Madrid will have their work cut out to get anything at all from the game.
They are susceptible if their full-backs, Sergio Escudero and Alvaro Arroyo, are put under pressure and while Barca's front three will give them a thorough examination, they've still to beat Vicente Guaita, a solid keeper who Barca themselves were interested in not so long ago.
Cordoba
As with Getafe, expect to see a number of changes against a Cordoba side that are as good as relegated.
Indeed, if Eibar and Almeria get at least a point in their midweek fixtures and Cordoba do not, then they will have fallen through the trapdoor before this match takes place.
Another early Saturday kick-off might not normally have sat well with the Catalans who generally struggle at this particular kick-off time, but with a Champions League semi-final just four days after this game, the extra time to rest will be welcomed.
Twelve losses from the last 14 games, per WhoScored, is hardly form to worry Barcelona, but Enrique will remind his players to be wary.
An away draw against Villarreal and a narrow 0-1 defeat to Athletic Club in their last two shows signs of a mini-revival.
Minds cannot be drawn to the Champions League fixture until this one has been put to bed.
Real Sociedad
Luis Enrique should give David Moyes a warm shake of the hand when they meet at Camp Nou.
After all, it was the result at the Anoeta Stadium at the turn of the year which kick-started Barca's season, the Catalans being almost unstoppable since then.
This game is sandwiched between Barca's fixtures against Bayern Munich and a fast start will be needed as the Blaugrana try to put the game to bed early and allow for some more rotation.
Moyes' side can't buy a win at the moment, the back end of February being the last time La Real took home all three points.
Real can certainly upset the apple cart with Esteban Granero and Xabi Prieto in particular to the fore at present.
Carlos Vela hasn't been at his best for a while but remains a player who can turn the game in an instant.
With Inigo Martinez exemplar at both ends of the pitch too, Barca can be assured of another tough test.
Atletico Madrid
Potentially the game that wins Barcelona the title but if Atleti still need the points for third place, then this is likely to be another battle royale.
The Rojiblancos will arrive at this game fresh and ready whereas the Catalans will be coming off the back of a gruelling second leg against Bayern, and whether or not they have been successful in their European endeavours, minds will be tired and bodies will be sore.
Antoine Griezmann remains the biggest threat to Barca's aspirations. Twenty-five goals in all competitions, per WhoScored, is a fine return for a player who is ostensibly the second striker for Diego Simeone's side.
Despite looking likely to leave in the summer per Sky Sports, Mario Mandzukic has the perfect opportunity to put himself in the shop window for a number of Premier League clubs with a towering performance here.
With quality right across the XI, Simeone has a genuine chance of putting a spoke in the works against Barca for the second season running.
Deportivo La Coruna
Another final-day battle will be more than most cules can take after the title was snatched from their grasp at the same stage last season.
With one eye on the Copa Del Rey final a week following this game, it's likely that Luis Enrique will want to be in a position to rest as many as possible.
Without a win in 12 games, Deportivo are again hanging onto their La Liga status by the skin of the teeth and whether or not they have secured survival by the final day, they'll still come to Camp Nou determined to play football.
Down already and the pressure will be off Victor Sanchez's side who can then play freely. Scrapping for points needed to stay in the Spanish top flight will see an entirely different complexion to the game, especially if Barca need a point or three themselves to see off Madrid's challenge once and for all.
Ex-Barca man Oriol Riera has been in man-of-the-match-winning form for Depor and you'd imagine that nothing would give him greater pleasure than to put one over on his old employers.
Their man threat will come from the right with the effervescent Lucas Perez keeping Jordi Alba busy all game.
Barca have shown that they are more than capable of winning enough games to take them to league glory, but when the pressure's on, can they get over the line?
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