Barcelona has a complete stranglehold on the Spanish Primera Division at 5-0-0, and will look to continue their dominance today at 2:00 p.m. against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou, Spain. Live stream the game free here by clicking this link.
Gerado Martino's club is so loaded that he can pick and choose to rest star players, which he's done throughout the season already. Today, Cesc Fabregas is the latest star to get an off day. Previously, notable names such as Xavi, Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets has received rest games.
We have to think about what state we'll be in by March or April. Our aim is to have all our players in top form by the end of each competition," Martino said. "At the moment of truth, perhaps we won't care about how many minutes players have had, we'll be more concerned about what we need to do."
The days off haven't hurt Barca yet, as they've scored 18 goals already this year and surrendered just for. In contrast, through five games Real Sociedad has scored just four goals total.
Pedro, who had a hat trick against Rayo, may not start today either.
"It's very difficult to rotate him after scoring three goals, but it could happen," Martino said. "The last thing we want is for our players to suffer during the game, we want them to be at 100 per cent so they can be at their best."
Despite Barcelona's successes in 2013, Martino has come under fire for adapting the club's style of play, which is now less focused on possession domination He's brushing off those critics however, essentially pointing at the scoreboard.
"Whenever you have a team that has been as successful as this side, these debates will occur, especially when the coach isn't from Catalonia or from Holland," he said. "But my main concern is how the players are performing and at the moment the team are solid and the players are happy, so that makes me relaxed."
Jagoba Arrasate, Sociedad boss, also said that his team isn't taking the pitch expecting to roll over for the powerful Barca club.
"If you sit back and close up shop at the Nou Camp, the game lasts forever," he said. "We have to go out and play, but also close them down and work our socks off."
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