Barcelona will look to put a bit more daylight between them and the chasing pack with victory at the Camp Nou on Saturday when Deportivo La Coruna pay a visit.
Barca lead the La Liga standings by two points from Atletico Madrid, with Real Madrid a further two points behind. A win will give them a considerable lead over their title rivals, while cranking up the pressure as well, with both Atletico and Real only scheduled to play their games on Sunday.
A win, though, will not come easy, with Deportivo doing pretty well this season so far, as their sixth place in the table suggests. A win for Deportivo will take them into fourth, level on points with Celta Vigo, and manager Barcelona Luis Enrique is not taking a win for granted.
"We are preparing for the match with plenty of caution, not only because they are currently sixth in the league but because they have lost just once in seven away matches this season," Enrique said.
"We have analysed Deportivo and they are not the same side we faced last campaign. They have the same coach, but different players and are working very hard."
Enrique believes the fans will have to play their part to get Barcelona over the line against Deportivo on Saturday.
"The fans need to show support in difficult times to give us security, and I am sure that this will help us get the three points to get to the Club World Cup in top condition," Enrique added.
There were reports suggesting Lionel Messi had suffered another injury, ahead of this weekend's fixtures, but the Argentine seemed fine in training on Friday, and Enrique was also quick to quash rumours surrounding the Barcelona talisman's fitness.
"Messi is absolutely fine," Enrique said. "The Barca fans can relax."
Neymar, though, will miss this match with a groin problem. Enrique is still not sure how serious the injury is, but Barcelona, who could also be without Jeremy Mathieu and Sergi Roberto, will be cautious in bringing the Brazilian, in roaring form this season, back into the team.
Deportivo have nothing to lose in this match, with all and sundry expecting Barcelona to take all three points. That lack of expectation might just work in their favour.
Where to Watch Live
Barcelona vs Deportivo La Coruna is scheduled for a 4 pm CET (8.30 pm IST, 3 pm BST. 10 am ET) start with live TV coverage in India on Sony Kix. Viewers in India can also watch the match via live streaming online on Sony Liv.
There will be no live coverage of the La Liga match for viewers in the UK. Audience in Spain can catch the match live on Canal+ Liga and Movistar TV Futbol.
Bein Sports and Bein Sports Connect (live stream) will broadcast the La Liga match between Barcelona and Deportivo live in the USA, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and North Africa.
