FC Barcelona will be looking for yet another win against Real Sociedad, taking it ever closer to a new club record for the best la Liga start in its history, playing a team which has taken a draw away from each of its away matches.
Barcelona is still two wins shy of snagging the record, which its Real Sociedad and Almeria ties should deliver. Seven straight wins would see Tata Martino's Barcelona bettering the past achievements of the club's glitterati, with six consecutive victories from Cruyff (1990-1991), Van Gaal (1997-1998), Guardiola (2009/10) and Vilanova (2012/13).
However, the Barça faithful are more interested in seeing its team make a clear improvement in their game following the past few matches in which, despite convincing wins, the style was a world away from that with which it has been associated over recent years.
Under these circumstances, Barça is embroiled in the long-standing debate about whether the aesthetics and the idea of controlling the game through ball possession takes precedence over the effectiveness of the goals and victory.
In the midst of it all are the players, who are backing a change towards a much more defined approach, giving away the ball at certain moments and going on the counterattack. Eight goals in the last two games are swinging the vote, for the moment, towards the new coach as opposed to sticking with the club's trademark style.
Javier Mascherano and Gerard Piqué have featured in every game so far. The Argentine has been a literal ever-present, clocking up 720 minutes across five 'La Liga' matches, both legs of the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League opener. Piqué, who made way for Bartra in the latter stages of the European tie, has only played 9 fewer minutes.
Bartra has yet to start a game, while Martino seems reluctant to shunt Song or Busquets back into defence, as Tito Vilanova did on a few occasions last season.
Together with Elche and its Botía-Lombán partnership, Barcelona is the only team to have named an unchanged centre-back pairing in the first five rounds of league fixtures. Even Real Madrid, for whom Pepe and Ramos lined up together for the first four 'La Liga' clashes, felt the need to rotate this past weekend.
This lack of rest could end up taking its toll for the 'Azulgranas' in the shape of injuries. Piqué was a fitness doubt for Saturday's clash in Vallecas, while Mascherano has already played almost double the minutes this season as he had at the same stage last time around.
Barcelona is still two wins shy of snagging the record, which its Real Sociedad and Almeria ties should deliver. Seven straight wins would see Tata Martino's Barcelona bettering the past achievements of the club's glitterati, with six consecutive victories from Cruyff (1990-1991), Van Gaal (1997-1998), Guardiola (2009/10) and Vilanova (2012/13).
However, the Barça faithful are more interested in seeing its team make a clear improvement in their game following the past few matches in which, despite convincing wins, the style was a world away from that with which it has been associated over recent years.
Under these circumstances, Barça is embroiled in the long-standing debate about whether the aesthetics and the idea of controlling the game through ball possession takes precedence over the effectiveness of the goals and victory.
In the midst of it all are the players, who are backing a change towards a much more defined approach, giving away the ball at certain moments and going on the counterattack. Eight goals in the last two games are swinging the vote, for the moment, towards the new coach as opposed to sticking with the club's trademark style.
No rest for weary Piqué and Mascherano
Just a month into the season and the lack of strength in depth at the heart of the 'Azulgranas' backline has been exposed. Having been thwarted in its attempt to sign Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, Barça once again finds itself seriously short on cover at centre-back, meaning Tata Martino could soon have a headache to contend with.
Javier Mascherano and Gerard Piqué have featured in every game so far. The Argentine has been a literal ever-present, clocking up 720 minutes across five 'La Liga' matches, both legs of the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League opener. Piqué, who made way for Bartra in the latter stages of the European tie, has only played 9 fewer minutes.
Bartra has yet to start a game, while Martino seems reluctant to shunt Song or Busquets back into defence, as Tito Vilanova did on a few occasions last season.
Together with Elche and its Botía-Lombán partnership, Barcelona is the only team to have named an unchanged centre-back pairing in the first five rounds of league fixtures. Even Real Madrid, for whom Pepe and Ramos lined up together for the first four 'La Liga' clashes, felt the need to rotate this past weekend.
This lack of rest could end up taking its toll for the 'Azulgranas' in the shape of injuries. Piqué was a fitness doubt for Saturday's clash in Vallecas, while Mascherano has already played almost double the minutes this season as he had at the same stage last time around.
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