Internet Desk : Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has warned his side they cannot afford any lapse in concentration if they are to get the better of La Liga title rivals Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.
The defending champions find themselves in second place, three points behind early leaders Real Madrid, heading into the midweek round of matches after responding to their shock home defeat to Alaves with comprehensive wins over Celtic and Leganes.
Barca scored 12 goals in those two wins but Luis Enrique knows his team needs to stay focused if they are to come through against Diego Simeone’s well-organised side, who have now won three successive matches after opening the domestic campaign with two draws.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar have been in impressive form once again, the trio helping route Celtic 7-0 in the Champions League and then sweep aside Leganes 5-1 away on Saturday.
Luis Enrique knows he must carefully manage Barcelona’s marauding frontline.
Barcelona must do without defender Samuel Umtiti, who strained knee ligaments during a training session on Tuesday, and the French centre-back could also be a doubt for Saturday’s game at Sporting Gijon.
Atletico, meanwhile, also bring decent form into the showpiece encounter, having won 5-0 against Sporting following their 1-0 Champions League win away at PSV Eindhoven.
Atletico boss Simeone has yet to win at the Camp Nou, and knows it will take a special performance to deliver that success at the ninth time of trying.
Having reached the Champions League final at the expense of Barcelona last season — winning 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals — Simeone has confidence his current squad are moving in the right direction.