Preview: Elche vs. Barcelona

Barcelona will be looking to keep up with league leaders Real Madrid this weekend when they travel to face Elche in La Liga.

The Catalan giants, fresh on the back of their 1-0 Copa del Rey first-leg victory against Atletico Madrid, are starting to click into top gear having won five games on the bounce in all competitions.

That is not to say that everything is perfect right now both on the field and off it, as defeat against Real Sociedad highlighted a little under three weeks ago, but Luis Enrique's men are still on course to land a treble which can only be a good thing as we enter the second half of the domestic campaign.

Enrique admitted that his side still have a lot of work to do following their victory over Atletico on Wednesday night, yet that has not stopped the former Celta Vigo boss dishing out praise to his forward trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in recent weeks.

The South American stars are now beginning to feed off each other as they work in tandem, although the latter is still stuck on just two goals this season in La Liga following a stuttered start after his lengthy ban.

He will no doubt get the chance to add a couple more to his name this weekend, though, against an Elche side who have not fared well against Barcelona at all this campaign.

A 3-0 opening-day defeat against the Camp Nou club was followed up by a thumping nine-goal aggregate reverse in the Copa del Rey earlier this month, with the scars no doubt still fresh in the memory.

However, Los Franjiverdes have recovered from a four-game losing streak prior to the winter break to take seven points from a possible nine on offer, ensuring that, despite those heavy defeats at the hands of Barca, they will come into this one in a positive frame of mind.

Jonathas was the hero in the 1-0 local derby victory against Levante last time out for Elche, and he will be aiming to help put one over on a Barcelona side who perhaps have one eye on cup duties at the Martinez Valero on Saturday evening.

As far as the visitors are concerned, Enrique has a decision over whether to stick with the same starting lineup for the third game in succession in the league, or reintroduce the fit-again Xavi into the middle of the park.

Elche:

Form in La Liga: LLLDWW Form in all competitions: LDLWLW

Possible starting lineup: Tyton, Damian, Enzo Roco, Pelegrin, Cisma, Victor, Pasalic, Adrian, Niguez, Fajr, Jonathas

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WDWLWW Form in all competitions: LWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo, Alba, Mascherano, Pique, Alves, Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic, Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Sports Mole says: 0-3