Preview: Barcelona vs. Malaga

Barcelona will be hoping to remain top of La Liga with a victory over Malaga at Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

The defending champions are ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid in the table on goal difference, with Real Madrid a point further back in third place.

Gerardo Martino's side drew 1-1 with Levante last weekend, before they beat the same opponents 4-1 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening.

Malaga's goalless draw against Valencia last Friday means that they have not won any of their last three matches.

Malaga have not beaten Barcelona since a 5-1 success over the Catalan giants in December 2003.

The hosts will be without Neymar, who is out for a few more weeks with an ankle injury, while captain Carles Puyol will also miss out due to a knock.

Malaga coach Bernd Schuster will be without injured defender Wellington, so Flavio Ferreira is expected to come into the side at centre-back.

Recent form

Barcelona: LWWWDD

Malaga: DWWLLD

Possible starting lineups

Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, Sanchez, Messi

Malaga: Caballero; Antunes, Sanchez, Ferreira, Gamez; Tissone, Camacho; Samuel, Duda, Eliseu; Cruz

Sports Mole says: 3-1