FC Barcelona is going through a difficult moment of the season, after losing El Clasico at Camp Nou and struggling to win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League during midweek, they urgently need a convincing victory. The rival is curiously the same one that started the unbeaten run back in 2015 when Barcelona seemed lost in every competition. After that loss at Anoeta, the Catalan club won a new treble and kept the amazing run going until this stage of the next season.
The Donostiarra are rooting for a new victory one year later, but it won't be quite that easy because they are facing the strongest team in the world right now regardless of their loss against Real Madrid. For midfielder Asier Illarramendi, a victory next Saturday is possible because of the delicate moment they are going through. During an interview with Real Sociedad's Web site, he analyzed the clash that's coming and the real options they have to defeat La Liga's current leaders.
"We're feeling strong and full of confidence and excitement, even though it will be another difficult game. Barcelona will be coming here to take all three points, especially after slipping up against Real Madrid. But we'll be more relaxed after our win last week and we have done well against Barca at home over the past few years. Let's hope this time it turns out well for us again. We are at home and we're fired up for it. We are always extra-motivated when we play against Barca - or any of the big sides.
"We'll be going all out against them, to play how we know, with intensity and determination. They've got players with a lot of quality and players up front who are prolific scorers and that means we have to make sure we commit as few mistakes at the back as possible. We know that we can beat them, they haven't beaten us here during the last four years. We have that in mind and if we have done it for four years running, we can do it again on Saturday, or at least draw. We'll be putting all of our strengths into winning the match."
Photo credit: Real Sociedad