Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara remains confident his side can haul back in-form Real Madrid in the Primera Division title race despite slipping further adrift of their arch rivals last weekend.

Whereas Madrid recorded their 15th win in 16 league matches with a 3-1 triumph over Real Zaragoza last time out, Barca could only play out a goalless draw at Villarreal, and that saw Pep Guardiola's men fall seven points behind the capital club.

That gap could have stretched to 10 points by the time Barca take the field against Real Sociedad with Madrid facing local rivals Getafe earlier in the evening, but Thiago insists it far too soon to rule the three-time reigning Spanish champions out of the reckoning.

"Of course we can fight back. We can achieve great things, as this team has shown down the years,'' he said.

Barca now face a hectic schedule which sees them play seven matches inside four weeks, including the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia and the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen.

Thiago is not looking any further than this weekend's league clash at the Nou Camp though, where Barca will look to continue their stunning home form this season that has brought them nine wins in 10 games, with 43 goals scored and only two conceded.

"I look at the future in the short term and that is Real Sociedad,'' he said. "We cannot be concerned about Valencia or Bayer Leverkusen. We set weekly targets for ourselves.''

Sociedad make the trip to Catalonia in high spirits following their 5-1 mauling of Sporting Gijon last weekend - the first time the Basque club have netted five goals in a top-flight game since 2004.

That victory was the perfect response to their 4-0 home defeat by Atletico Madrid the previous week and helped lift Philippe Montanier's side, having propped up the table not so long ago, up to 12th spot on 24 points, four above the relegation places.

The loss to Atletico is the only defeat that Sociedad have suffered in their last nine league matches but they know how tough it will be to pick up anything from their trip to Barca having lost 5-0 in last season's corresponding fixture.

Forward Xabi Prieto said: "We're going there knowing that it's very difficult. They've only been held to one draw this season, and until facing Betis recently they hadn't conceded a single goal.

"They are probably the best team in the world, but we are going there with the hope of achieving something that nobody has managed until now.

"Last season we had things very difficult from the start. We need to make sure that doesn't happen again.''

Match

Nairaland World
Plot 1 Galacticos Avenue
Lagos
Dear God,

Please kindly make it be that barcelona drop points again today and make real madrid win its match against local neighbors getafe.
Amin.

Yours faithfully
USBCABLE.

^^^I'm very sure that prayer has backfired.

We've drawn our last 3. Well, someone's has got to pay for the broken plates.

medjai:

^^^I'm very sure that prayer has backfired.

We've drawn our last 3. Well, someone's has got to pay for the broken plates.

holyghost fire burn down all principalities ''trying'' to usurp my prayer.

Up barca.w are winning.

Minute Silence for egypt footie fans

game on

lol end to end stuff , messi's shot got blocked. sociedad's own too

pls barca draw this match

Lovely goal by Tello! Great set-up by Messi.

The boys just need to keep their concentration for 90 mins.

Oh and Masch gets some special mention for his tackling - our best defender this season.

usbcable:

                                                                Nairaland World
                                                                Plot 1 Galacticos Avenue
                                                                Lagos
Dear God,

Please kindly make it be that barcelona drop points again today and make real madrid win its match against local neighbors getafe.
Amin.

Yours faithfully
USBCABLE.

So shall it be in Jesus' name!

1 - 0

Telooooooo!
Now i belive guardiola as he previously claimed barca has 10 wilsheres

I'm sure Pep is now regretting his overly conservative line-up against Villareal. The boys are playing much better today and just need to make the best of the possession and chances.

I think JDS will be the first sub out - too many fouls from him (mostly in the opposition half though) and a few misplaced passes. It's difficult for him to give the defence the same cover as Busi does and it looks like pep has switched from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3, with Alves moving back to defence.

Good Alvez should keep on missing derry player

You know your prayer can't be answered!

Wow! living dangerously! Barca need to score a 2nd goal (at least0 for comfort.

7 mins into the 2nd half, Messi + Tello want to do the exact same move as the 1st half goal. Offside though.

Fresh impetus needed. Cesc should go off - his performance has been mostly flat.

grandma puyol

carlos vela innnn

Messi's conversion rate has dropped ridiculously in the last few matches! I hope pep sees that the man needs some rest. Normal Messi would have a hat-trick in this match.

hahahahahahaha see them celebrating

Alves na mumu o! He should have just gone into the post na! Gosh!

na today?

Finally! The 2nd goal comes. And Messi deserves it too.

goal

soceidadddd scoressss

Velaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Let me hear anyone say that La Liga teams make life easy for Barca & Real. These Basque boys are very stubborn!

JDS off - no surprise. Busi provides better cover.

na wa o

see sociedad  o

OMG Busquet

Barca abeg o!!! Don't drop points again o!!! Chai. . .