Barcelona will try to add some pressure to Real Madrid's season on Saturday, when they face Malaga at Camp Nou Stadium. Despite playing their first leg match of the UEFA Champions League next week, Barcelona will face this game with the motivation of earning their 12th consecutive victory in all competitions, while the Andalucian side will try to repeat their almost heroic performance of the first semester of the season, where they managed to draw against Los Cules at La Rosaleda.
Scoring at least three goals in their six previous matches at Camp Nou, Barcelona's prospects of winning this match are high. With the current form shown by Los Blaugranas, Malaga seems like a probable victim against the MSN attack, which has performed beautifully as games go by. Last week, all three strikers scored, being Lionel Messi the star of the match, scoring his 23rd hat-trick in La Liga matches, adding to Barcelona's total a strange goal by Neymar, and a wonderful bicycle kick by Luis Suarez. Coach Luis Enrique will have almost every player available for this match, with the exceptions of Thomas Vermaelen, who is yet to make his debut with Los Cules, and Douglas, who is still struggling with a right leg problem.
On the other hand, the Andalucian side will try to win their first match against Barcelona in over a decade. Their last victory came in December 2003, and the blue and white crew have only won two points in their last 14 visits to Barcelona's home. Coach Javi Gracia will surely start his most trusted men, including goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who has been one of the surprises this season for Los Boquerones. Malaga will not have neither Nordim Amrabat nor Ignacio Camacho available for this match, after receiving bans.
Their first match this season ended with a 0-0 draw, remembered by Lionel Messi's argument with Weligton, who grabbed the Argentinian's face and pushed him away without being booked by the referee.
Barcelona vs Malaga team sheets
Barcelona's lineup: Bravo, Piqué, Sergio, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar, Rafinha, Jordi Alba, Alves, Mathieu
Malaga's lineup: Kameni, Weligton, Samuel, Horta, Juanmi, Recio, Angeleri, Rosales, M.Torres, S.Castillejo and S.Darder.
Barcelona's bench: Ter Stegen, Rakitic, Xavi, Pedro, Mascherano, Bartra, Adriano.
Malaga's bench: Ochoa, Guerra, Tissone, Duda, Boka, Filipenko, Juanpi.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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