La Liga Preview: Barcelona Keen To Keep Winning Run Going Against Malaga
FOLLOW LIVE as Barcelona looks to maintain their impressive winning run against a Malaga side missing key men.
OMNISPORT
Andres Iniesta said an intense desire to avoid last season's disappointment is driving Barcelona's outstanding run ahead of their clash with Malaga.
Barca went without a major trophy for the first time since 2007-08 last term, a failure that led to the departure of coach Gerardo Martino.
[[{"uri": "/media/69351", "style": "height: 120px; width: 640px;"}]]
New boss Luis Enrique appears to have restored the club's famous attacking verve, though, and an 11-match winning streak in all competitions has caught the eye.
Still one point behind Liga leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona thrashed Levante 5-0 on Sunday. Star man Lionel Messi netted a hat-trick in the win, which came in his 300th league appearance, while Neymar and Luis Suarez also netted.
[[{"uri": "/media/69349", "style": ""}]]
And midfielder Iniesta - who missed the rout of Levante with flu but has returned to training - said last season is all the inspiration his side needs ahead of Saturday's meeting with the seventh-placed Malaga at Camp Nou.
"We're coming off a down year, and that has really served as a motivator for us," Iniesta told FIFA.com.
"We're going to try and make sure this season ends happily, with titles in our pockets, and with the fans having fun again.
Barcelona have scored 42 goals in their winning streak, and Malaga's defence will have to be at its best to keep out the Catalan giants. Back-to-back defeats to Espanyol and Levante will hardly fill Javi Gracia's team with confidence, though, and Malaga have not won any of their last 20 clashes against Barca - their last triumph a 5-1 victory in December 2003.
[[{"uri": "/media/69353", "style": "height: 176px; width: 640px;"}]]
[[{"uri": "/media/69218", "style": ""}]]
[[{"uri": "/media/69352", "style": "height: 422px; width: 640px;"}]]
[[{"uri": "/media/69350", "style": ""}]]
