Ronald Koeman has no intention of resting Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong ahead of next week's El Clasico, despite both players being one booking away from a suspension.
Barca will be looking to extend their 18-match unbeaten run in LaLiga when they welcome Real Valladolid to Camp Nou on Monday.
Messi and De Jong are both available for the game as the Catalan giants look to keep the pressure on leaders Atletico Madrid, who are four points better off ahead of Sunday's trip to Sevilla.
However, both players risk being banned for next Saturday's showdown with bitter rivals Real Madrid, having each been booked four times already this season.
But while the pair may be walking a disciplinary tightrope, Koeman is ready to risk star man Messi and central midfielder De Jong against Valladolid.
"We know that these two players are one card away, but it is not the time to rest players due to cards or freshness," he said at Sunday's pre-match news conference.
"We have ten games left. There is always the risk, but the best thing is to put the team out that I think can win the game."
Messi has been directly involved in 23 league goals in 2021 - 16 goals and seven assists - which is more than any other player in the top five European leagues.
The Argentinian has had a direct hand in eight goals in his last four LaLiga games against Real Valladolid - four goals and four assists.
Those goal involvements have helped Barca to 13 wins in their previous 14 LaLiga games against Valladolid, with the only exception being a 1-0 defeat away from home in March 2014.
Sergio Gonzalez's side have won just one of their past 11 league games, but Koeman will not take Monday's opponents lightly.
"You have to be prepared, you can't think that it will be an easy game," he said. "We have to go in with a lot of energy and rhythm and be good with the ball.
"We have to get back to our level. It could be a game without problems, but you always have to work hard to win."
Gerard Pique returned to training this week after recovering from a knee problem, while Sergi Roberto is also closing in on a comeback after two months on the sidelines.
Koeman will make a late decision on whether the defensive duo are ready to play a part against Valladolid.
"They are training with the team lately. They have improved a lot," he said.
"These are decisions that will be made tomorrow after the last training session. We aren't going to take risks [with injuries], nor next week, because there are more games coming this season."
Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace: Mateta seals Eagles' first away win of season
Crystal Palace moved three points clear of the relegation zone after a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal at Portman Road, where Oliver Glasner's side recorded their first away win of the league campaign.
The French striker made the decisive impact in the 59th minute, with a neat lofted finish over Arijanet Muric after a swift counter by the visitors.
Ipswich could not respond and their wait for that elusive first home win since returning to the top flight goes on.
Palace climb a place to 16th and take their tally to 12 points, which is three more than Kieran McKenna’s side, who stay 19th.
Data Debrief: Eagles end away drought as Mateta matches Johnson
Palace could be forgiven for lacking confidence upon arriving at Portman Road. Without a win in four matches – drawing three – Glasner's side had failed to record a success on the road this term.
Mateta made the difference as he became only the second Palace player to score in four successive Premier League games against newly promoted sides, after Andy Johnson in the 2004-05 season.
The Eagles held out for their first away clean sheet since their 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in April.
As for Ipswich, they have now failed to score in five of their 14 league games this season, with only Everton (seven) drawing a blank more often.
‘It would mean everything’: T&T’s Kaile Auvray and Cavalier FC hungry for Caribbean Cup glory
Cavalier FC midfielder Kaile Auvray is fully aware of the significance of the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup Final for both himself and his Jamaican club.
As Cavalier prepare for Tuesday’s decisive second leg against Cibao FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, Auvray is embracing the magnitude of the moment and the opportunity to etch his team’s name in the annals of Caribbean football history.
“Being part of such an exciting match, such as the Caribbean Cup final, it's really an honor,” said the Trinidad and Tobago native, who has been a pivotal figure for Cavalier throughout the competition.
“I think this title would mean everything, honestly. I know that last year we came close to winning it, so this year, [we] just want to go one step further and bring it home,” he added.
The two clubs were evenly matched in the opening leg in Kingston, Jamaica, where Cavalier claimed a narrow 1-0 victory. Shaquille Stein’s decisive strike extended his tournament-leading tally to eight goals, setting the stage for a tantalizing conclusion at Cibao FC Stadium.
Auvray has played an instrumental role in Cavalier’s road to the final, notably contributing in the semifinals with a multi-goal performance alongside Stein. His creativity and attacking instincts will be critical as Cavalier aim to protect their slender advantage and secure the club’s first Concacaf Caribbean Cup title.
Despite the first-leg setback, Cibao FC remains confident in its ability to overturn the deficit in front of its passionate home crowd.
The Dominican club had been unbeaten in the competition until the loss in Kingston and will look to its leading scorer, Rivaldo Correa, to inspire a comeback.
Correa, who has netted five goals in the tournament, led Cibao’s charge in the first leg with seven shots on goal. His determination to deliver for the home fans was evident in his pre-match comments.
“We are going to give our all. The team's spirit is that we are very focused, that we are going to turn it around, that we are going to do things in the best way. We are going to be very concentrated to turn this match around and take us to the championship.”
With the aggregate winner set to be crowned 2024 champions, every moment of the second leg promises to be high-stakes.
Should Cibao win 1-0, the match would proceed to extra time and potentially penalties to determine the victor. Away goals serve as the first tiebreaker, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.
For Auvray and Cavalier, this is a chance to solidify the club’s place among the Caribbean elite and bring a sense of pride to their supporters.
“This is about going one step further. We’re ready to give it everything we’ve got,” Auvray emphasized.
Real Mallorca 1-5 Barcelona: In-form Raphinha nets two as leaders run riot
Barcelona captain Raphinha scored twice as they won in LaLiga for the first time in a month, crushing Real Mallorca 5-1 at the Estadi Son Moix.
Hansi Flick's league leaders – who were without a victory in three matches in the competition – netted four times in a dominant second-half performance as they extended their advantage over Real Madrid to four points.
A comical mix-up between Martin Valjent and Johan Majica allowed Ferran Torres to give Barca a 12th-minute lead, though the hosts levelled when Vedat Muriqi tapped home to cap a lightning counterattack on the stroke of half-time.
However, that equaliser only served to anger Barca and they pulled clear after the interval.
Raphinha restored their lead from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after the excellent Lamine Yamal was fouled, with the teenager then curling in a wonderful 74th-minute cross to tee up his captain's second goal.
Substitutes Frenkie de Jong and Pau Victor added to the goalfest with late strikes from inside the box to wrap up an easy win for the Blaugrana, who have played two games more than second-placed Madrid.
Data Debrief: Raphinha into double figures as Barca cruise
In Robert Lewandowski (15) and Raphinha (10), Barcelona are the only team to have two players in double figures for goals in one of Europe's top five leagues this season.
Things could hardly have been more comfortable for the Blaugrana, who created a huge total of 4.93 expected goals (xG), the highest figure by any team in a single match in LaLiga this campaign.
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