An acid test for Real Sociedad

This Tuesday at 20:00 (CET) the Camp Nou will play host to FC Barcelona as they take on Real Sociedad for matchday six of the Liga BBVA season. The Catalan side have a favourable record against the visitors, having won all 15 of the last encounters between the two teams.

"Real Sociedad is one of the best teams around at the moment. They are a very good side that also have some excellent individuals", the blaugrana coach, Gerardo Martino, explained on Monday in his pre-match press conference. With a 100% record so far in the season, five victories out of five, Barcelona will be hoping to keep their winning streak alive and maintain their position atop the league table, a perch they share with Atletico Madrid. Sergio Busquets returns after missing out on the clash against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, while Cesc Fabregas has not been called up because of a technical decision.

The Basque side travels to the Catalan capital with two important absentees, Diego Ifran and Esteban Granero, the latter of whom recently ruptured an interior cruciate ligament. With one win, three draws and a defeat so far, Real Sociedad currently occupies the seventh spot in the league table and their manager, Jagoba Arrasate, is fully aware of the difficultly of the task at hand: "We know who we are facing but we want to play well and come out of the match the stronger side. We’ll have to be at our best".