Racing Santander vs. Barcelona: Full Preview, Live Stream, Start Time and More

Barcelona face an uphill battle to chase down El Clasico rival Real Madrid, so the Blaugrana can't afford to slip up against Racing Santander on Sunday. Barca won an earlier match between the two sides 3-0 back in October.

There are currently 10 points between Barcelona and the top of the La Liga table, so there is literally no margin for error down the stretch. If fans are looking for a bright side, the team is playing its best football of the season right now with five straight victories.

The Racinguistas have a lot to play for as well. They currently sit in the relegation zone, three points behind Villarreal for the final safe position. It will take a strong finish to avoid being sent down, which is every team's worst nightmare when a campaign begins.

Where: El Sardinero in Santander, Spain

When: Sunday, March 11 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: Gol TV USA and ESPN3.com

Betting Odds: Barcelona -417, Racing Santander +1020, Draw +444

Player to Watch for Racing Santander: Christian Stuani

It's been an interesting ride for Stuani. The Uruguayan striker has become quite the world traveler since it seems he doesn't stay with one team for more than a season. His club, Reggina Calcio, continues to loan him out and this season it was to Racing Santander.

Stuani seems to have found a comfort zone in La Liga, scoring six goals in 21 appearances to lead the team. He's been forced to do it by himself in most matches since the Racinguistas lack scoring depth, which only makes the feat more impressive.

Pretty soon they might have to start calling him the Mary Poppins of football because he seems to land wherever the wind blows during any given transfer window. But as long as he keeps producing, nobody is going to complain.

Player to Watch for Barcelona: Lionel Messi

Wow. That's always the first word that comes to mind when watching Messi play. It was certainly the case against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday when he became the first player to net five goals in a Champions League match.

He simply can do things on the pitch that other players can't even dream about. His combination of natural talent, determination and, perhaps his most underrated attribute, intelligence, makes him able to make things happen no matter how many defenders are focused on him.

Messi scored twice in the first game against Racing Santander, and a similar performance this time around wouldn't surprise anybody.

Key Matchup: Adrian Gonzalez vs. Cesc Fabregas

In a matchup of playmaking midfielders, Fabregas has the advantage. His transition to Barcelona after nearly a decade with Arsenal has been seamless. So far this season he's posted nine goals and seven assists in 20 league fixtures. That's exactly the type of production Barca was hoping for.

Gonzalez is slowly but surely developing into a reliable midfielder. While he only had one La Liga goal over the past two seasons, he's already netted three this season. The 23-year-old Spaniard should continue to flourish in the coming years.

What They're Saying

Racing's coaching staff underwent a shakeup this week, according to ESPN. The team's recent struggles played a role in the change.

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''As of this morning, Juan Jose Gonzalez has ceased to be the coach of Racing. Until it is decided who will occupy the bench, in the final stretch of the season, Fede Castanos and Pablo Pinillos will continue at the helm of the team.''

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Speculation about Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola's future continues to float around, but Luis Mira of Goal.com reports the manager isn't giving any hints about what his plans might be:

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He has remained cryptic about his future at Barca, and Wednesday's 7-1 Champions League victory against Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their last-16 tie has done little to make him express his desires.

"Sunday is when Barcelona play their next match," Guardiola told Sky Germany. "We will see what happens in the future.

"I hold my cards close to my chest."

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Prediction

Barcelona 3, Racing Santander 0