Barcelona need to recover from their Clasico setback against in-form Real Sociedad... but their opponents are playing the best football in LaLiga and could pile on the misery in the most important clash of the season

As Barcelona try to recover from losing the Clasico this weekend they face Real Sociedad, a team in a cup final, and a club managing to do so many of the things well that they were once famed for.

It’s been a long time since Real Sociedad were this good. They finished as champions in 1981 and 1982 and last won the Copa del Rey in 1987. They also finished as runners-up in the league in 2003 but lost young midfielder Xabi Alonso to Liverpool and were soon back among the also-rans.

Alonso is now back at the club coaching the youth team.