Barcelona v Leganes: Barca close in on league unbeaten record
Friday 6 April 2018 12:28, UK
Barcelona will equal a La Liga record 38th-straight unbeaten game if they avoid defeat against Leganes on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football from 7:40pm.
The Calatan giants survived a huge scare last time out against Sevilla, coming from 2-0 down with three minutes to play through Luis Suarez and substitute Lionel Messi to salvage a 2-2 draw, before recovering to batter Roma 4-1 in the Champions League in midweek.
Even in that game they were not at their best, though, with two own goals helping them to victory - but that will matter little if they can move within four games of the La Liga title by the end of the weekend, with second-placed Atletico Madrid taking on rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.
Live La Liga Football
Should they pick up a point or more, they will equal Real Sociedad's streak across 1978/79 and 1979/80, and move seven games away from the first unbeaten La Liga season in history.
"All I care about is that the team keeps on winning," said midfielder Ivan Rakitic following the victory over Roma.
"We are still winning and we are growing in every game. Right now we are at the most exciting stage of the season but also the toughest part."
Since ending a run of eight games without a win, Leganes have lost two of their last three games, but did beat Sevilla before the international break.
And it was only an injury-time Suarez penalty which saw Ernesto Valverde's men beyond Leganes at the Nou Camp last season, which winger Alexander Szymanowski thinks can give the side extra belief.
He told the club's website: "Taking something positive from the Camp Nou seems impossible, although last year we were a few minutes away from achieving it. The key is not to lose faith and order.
"Do not despair if the result is negative and maybe lose a bit of respect for Barcelona, you have to know what team it is, but we will have to be brave, risk and get the best out of each one."
