After maintaining their 3-point lead at the top of the La Liga table from the weekend, Barcelona will focus on Real Sociedad on Thursday in a Copa Del Rey quarterfinal clash.

The Blaugrana defeated Gerafe 1-0 at the weekend courtesy of a Pedri goal in the first half of the game. Xavi’s side leads their closest rival, Real Madrid, with three points despite the Los Blancos’ 2-0 win against Athletic Club.

Barcelona, who recently won the Supercopa De Espana, will hope to continue their chase for more titles, as Xavi said weeks back about winning more laurels at the club.

One of the trophies available is the Copa Del Rey, which Barcelona must get last Real Sociedad on Thursday at Camp Nou. It is one of the two quarterfinals to be played on Thursday, with Osasuna hosting Sevilla.

Barcelona hasn’t lost to Real Sociedad since a 1-0 loss in 2015 in La Liga. There is no better time to beat Barcelona than now, with the team unbeaten since a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the Europa League in November.

Furthermore, Real Sociedad are on a seven-match winning streak ending with a 2-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano over the weekend in La Liga. 

Perhaps their rich vein of form is why Barcelona manager Xavi believes that the game will be tough, although he believes his team has prepared enough to win against their visitors.

“I think it’s going to be a great match. They are in form. We had a good match against Getafe. We are in a good moment. They are a solid team. I think it’ll be a great match. We will make a decision. We have trained normally. We don’t want to give any clues away. We have decided how we’ll play, but we won’t decide the team until tomorrow, about an hour and a half or so before the match.” Xavi said.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu