Spanish Primera Liga leader FC Barcelona will look to maintain their five point lead this weekend with a win over Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor.
Unbeaten Barca have set a club record of 33 points from their opening 13 league matches but have struggled to impress on their travels this year. Wednesday's win in Xerez was their first in four away trips.
With Deportivo being on the Spain’s toughest sides to beat, Barca coach Guardiola had rested key players on Wednesday, but Saturday will see his strongest side take to the pitch in the Riazor Stadium with Leo Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Andres Iniesta all back in the starting 11 along with defender Carles Puyol.
Deportivo La Coruna's rise to fifth in La Liga has been built around a well-organised, no-frills approach to matches. Deportivo keep things tight in defense while looking to take advantage from set pieces and on the counter attack.
FC Barcelona’s travel to face Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday promises to be one of the most complicated away matches of the campaign.
REVIEW:
Late goals from Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic kept Barcelona five points clear at the top of La Liga in a 3-1 victory away to Deportivo La Coruña.
Messi fired the Blaugrana in front after 27 minutes when he fired a shot in off the post of Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia, but the Galicians fought back and got the equalizer through Adrián 11 minutes later.
After a bit of a sluggish second half, Messi bagged his second with 10 minutes to play after heading in a wonderful cross by Pedro.
Ibrahimovic completed the scoring with two minutes remaining when he slotted home Eric Abidal's left-wing cross, helped by a dummy from Messi along the way.