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Attendance: 36,543
Real Sociedad logo
La Liga | Gameweek 17
Dec 14, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

2-2

Oyarzabal (12' pen.), Isak (62')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Griezmann (39'), Suarez (49')

Ernesto Valverde: 'Beating Real Sociedad as important as winning El Clasico'

Ernesto Valverde: 'Beating Real Sociedad as important as winning El Clasico'
© Reuters
Barca then play Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde maintains winning at in-form Real Sociedad will be just as important as getting the better of Real Madrid in El Clasico.

The LaLiga leaders travel to San Sebastian aiming to keep themselves in front of Los Blancos ahead of their showdown at the Nou Camp on December 18.

Valverde, though, insists focus must be on first getting the required result at the Reale Arena against a Sociedad side which has climbed up to fourth.

"Over the years, it has been one of the most difficult places to visit," Valverde said at Barcelona's pre-match media conference.

"The last two seasons we have won, but it was on the back of a bad streak.

"If we add to this how La Real are doing – playing good football with great players, and using the last clash here at the Camp Nou as a reference – it will be a tough game.

"They are a team that clearly have a plan, always trying to win the ball back and have a lot of spark."

Valverde intends to take things very much one game at a time.

"We will see what we are going to do from Sunday. We are not thinking beyond Saturday's game," he said, quoted by Marca.

"I don't want us to lose concentration over tomorrow.

"The three points against La Real are worth as much as against Real Madrid."

Full-backs Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo will be available on Saturday, having not featured in the midweek Champions League win at Inter Milan.

Lionel Messi was rested for the trip to Italy.

The Argentina playmaker is in fine form once again, having scored 14 goals so far.

Barcelona' Lionel Messi (right) in action
Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi (right) has again impressed this season (Peter Byrne/PA)

Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil accepts his men will have a job on their hands keeping the six-time Ballon d'Or winner quiet.

"There is no way of stopping Messi. The only thing to hope for is that he does not have a good day," Alguacil told a press conference.

"For me, he is the best player that has existed in history, no doubt. Alongside him are players who are not at his level, but who are close."

Sociedad have lost just twice in the past eight LaLiga matches.

"I think we are coming into it in a good way," Alguacil said. "The game has generated a lot of excitement.

"There are no tickets left, the stadium is full – and that says a lot about what the team has transmitted, something which I feel proud about.

"More than the league table and the good performances in some of the games, what excites me most is what we have been able to generate in the fans which has been based around our way of playing."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


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