Can Barcelona remain unbeaten in La Liga? Guillem Balague gives his verdict

La Liga returns on Sky Sports this weekend with Barcelona closing in on a 25th league title, but can they go through the season unbeaten?

Ernesto Valverde's side are currently 29 games unbeaten in the Primera Division but they face a tricky balancing act as they compete on three fronts for the rest of the season and try to stay unbeaten in the league.

Barca have never gone undefeated, although they came very close during the 2009/10 season when Pep Guardiola's side lost just a solitary game - away against Atletico Madrid.

Can Ernesto Valverde's side go one better? We asked Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague for his verdict...

What have you made of Barca's unbeaten run?

Guillem Balague: "It's pretty impressive going 29 games unbeaten, 36 if you go back to last season. They are two games away from matching Real Sociedad's 38-game record, which was also set across two seasons (1979/1980). What's even more impressive is that they've only conceded 13 goals in 29 games and scored 74 goals.

How important will squad rotation be in their bid to go unbeaten?

GB: "We are getting to the point of the season where certain players are going to choose when they play because, number one, it's a World Cup year. Number two, there have been a lot of games already and the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Marc-Andre ter Stegen have been having muscle complaints in the last few weeks.

"In the case of Messi, he spent the first half of the season doing absolutely everything for everyone and the concern is that he reaches the latter stages of the season too tired so there will be times when rotation is used during the run-in.

"And that I think affects everyone. When you look at the fixtures there are eight games in April, including potentially three Champions League games and the Copa del Rey final. Throw in games on the final day of March and potentially on the first day of May that's 10 games in just over a month and that run will not be possible without rotation."

Is the squad strong enough?

GB: "Looking at the Barcelona's squads since the arrival of Pep Guardiola in 2008, for me, this is the worst Barcelona squad of the last 10 years.

"In the previous window and in the next one, they tried and are attempting to change eight players in total. That's a third of the squad and it suggests Barcelona agree about the strength of their squad.

"This will be the time we notice how good the squad actually is, how deep it is and I feel Barcelona could be short when you need the bench to come up with something in certain games."

Where could they slip up?

GB: "The Sevilla game this weekend is one where you would normally say you could see the record being broken. However, Sevilla's record in the league at the moment is not great. In the knockout matches they are unbeaten but using the same line-up things are not quite going to plan for Vincenzo Montella's side. They are suffering more in La Liga and are now putting more of their focus on the knockout competitions, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey final.

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"Another tricky match for Valverde's side. Looking back at Barca's recent record at Celta Vigo, they drew at Balaidos in the Copa del Rey earlier in the season but in the league they have suffered back-to-back defeats.

"Barcelona could have the La Liga title already wrapped up by the time El Clasico comes around. If not, they could potentially win it against Real Madrid at the Nou Camp depending on how the results pan out. There is also a potential Champions League semi-final second leg just before which could affect Barcelona's preparations."

Can they do it?

GB: "If they manage to do it, it will be down to exceptional managing of the squad from Valverde and also Messi and Ter Stegen. Barcelona are an unbalanced squad and they depend a lot on both Messi and Ter Stegen and generally the first team.

"The Champions League will also play a huge part. If they get all the way to the final it will take a lot of their focus so I can't see them doing it."

Watch Sevilla v Barcelona live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event from 7.40pm on Saturday.