PREVIEW: Injury-hit Barcelona obliged to win at Osasuna

By Duncan Shaw Feb 9, 2012, 8:04 GMT

Madrid - Barcelona must win away to tough Osasuna on Saturday if they intend to catch up with Spanish league leaders Real Madrid.

Real are seven points ahead of the world champions and now have two comfortable-looking home matches coming up, against Levante and Racing Santander.

'Any more slip-ups in the league from Barca and the race for the title will be as good as over,' ,' said Radio Marca.

Barca's home form this season has been excellent, as Valencia discovered to their cost on Wednesday when they lost 2-0 in the Camp Nou in a one-sided cup semi-final.

But on the road, Lionel Messi and company have struggled to impose themselves, ceding 13 points so far.

Eighth-placed Osasuna are never easy opponents in their noisy Pamplona stadium, particularly on cold winter nights.

'Barcelona are the clear favourites, but we will certainly make them suffer ... They are seven points behind, but they still have options to win the league,' Osasuna coach Jose Luis Mendilibar said.

Barca hope to have Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta fit by Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Racing Santander face Atletico Madrid, who are unbeaten since Diego Simeone took over as coach in December, and Real Betis will receive Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao cruised into the cup final by thrashing third division Mirandes 6-2.

Betis, who have slipped to fifth from bottom after a good start, will be hoping that the Basques are tired after their cup exterions.

Sunday's games in addition to the Real Madrid-Levante clash are Espanyol v Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano v Getafe, Malaga v Mallorca, Valencia v Sporting Gijon and Villarreal v Granada.

The 22nd round of matches will finish on Monday, with struggling Sevilla, who are 11th, away to spirited Real Sociedad.

Making his debut on the Sevilla bench will be Michel, who took over on Monday from the sacked Marcelino Garcia. Michel, a Real Madrid and Spain star in the 1980s, turned down Zaragoza and Sporting Gijon in recent weeks.

'I cannot solve the problems here all on my own. I will need the help of everybody. Coaching Sevilla is something important, and I am full of hope,' said Michel.