With 19 Primera Division matches played this season, Barcelona are on course for an unparalleled domestic campaign. Should they continue at the same pace they’ve mustered in the first half of the campaign, the winter champions will finish the term with 102 points, 122 goals and a goal difference that is a breathtaking positive 100. The numbers are mind-blowing.
But sheer statistics cannot do justice to the manner in which Barcelona are taking apart their opponents at present. La Blaugrana have chalked up 13 straight wins in La Liga, mustering at least three goals in 10 of those fixtures and a good deal more in many more.
Last weekend the victims were a new-look Malaga side. Los Boquerones were blown away 4-1 at Camp Nou, but Pep Guardiola was typically guarded with his post-match comments, urging his side to keep focussed on the task at hand.
“I am very pleased with the way the team played in the first half [of the season],” he said. “As for our four-point lead over Real Madrid, it is ridiculous to make conclusions; it's a very slight advantage. Let's not forget that we have away games coming up at teams such as Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla and, of course, Real [Madrid].”
A 3-1 defeat against Betis in midweek was very sloppy and out of character, though it was largely inconsequential given Barca’s 5-0 advantage from the first leg. Guardiola will have been left displeased by the hammering given to his team by the Segunda Division leaders, not least because he fielded a strong side in Seville. Expect a response at the weekend.
Difficult To Beat But Lacking Quality
Racing Santander, unlike their hosts, have their feet firmly planted in the world of mortals. With 20 points they continue to sit contentedly away from the relegation zone, though Miguel Angel Portugal’s side will doubtless be aware of the series of difficult tests that await them over the next couple of months.
Barcelona away is only the start of an extremely difficult group of fixtures, which also includes matches against Valencia, Villarreal and Real Madrid. Against the top four in the first half of the campaign, los Montaneses failed to pick up a solitary point and there is little hope of better results the second time around.
Los Verdiblancos have become a difficult side to beat, though a four match undefeated sequence was ended last weekend in the Basque Country, where they succumbed to Athletic Bilbao 2-1.
“We deserved something more,” Portugal argued. “Their goals have hurt us, but then the team managed to rally fairly well. We have been persistent. We had chances in the first half but in the second we failed to play when we made it 2-1.”
Having been schooled 3-0 by Barca on the opening day of the season at home, Racing will fully understand the challenge that is presented in front of them on Saturday. Every point is valuable to the Cantabrians in the battle against the drop, but they won’t expect to make any progress in Catalunya.
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Daniel Alves will miss this fixture along with Jeffren, who will be missing until the end of February after tearing a muscle in his left thigh. Carles Puyol should be able to return to the squad, having trained normally on Thursday.
Racing
Oscar Serrano has undergone surgery on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. Alexandros Tziolis is a long-term problem. On the other hand, Fabio Coltorti should come back into the squad after illness.
Experienced attacker Pedro Munitis is out due to a ban and it has been confirmed he will miss the forthcoming fixture against Valencia for this reason too.
Prediction
After Real Madrid’s faux pas last weekend, Barcelona will be desperate to keep the heat up on their great rivals, and what better way than going seven points clear? La Blaugrana should not find Racing Santander to be opposition who can contain them, and a comfortable win is on the cards.
Barcelona 3-0 Racing 
