Real Sociedad vs Barcelona preview - Martino backs Neymar - 7M sport

Real Sociedad vs Barcelona preview - Martino backs Neymar



Posted Friday, February 21, 2014 by PA

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino is confident Neymar can continue to deliver on the pitch despite the continuing controversy over his transfer from Santos last year.

While Barca top the Primera Division - level on 60 points with both Real and Atletico Madrid - and are on course for the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 2-0 win at Manchester City in midweek, the past few days have nevertheless been troubled ones.

On Wednesday the club were once again called upon to defend their actions in the complex signing of the Brazil forward, while the saga was cranked up another notch on Thursday when the club was charged by the Spanish High Court for alleged tax fraud relating to the signing.

Neymar became personally embroiled in the situation this week when he reacted angrily on social media to comments coming out of former club Santos about his father's role in the transfer, but his boss at Barca is confident his focus on the pitch has been unaffected.

"What's happening with Neymar is not normal," said Martino, whose team travel to Real Sociedad on Saturday.

"But in terms of the playing time is getting and the way he's performing, there's nothing wrong."

The off-field concerns are also unlikely to come as any sort of distraction to the rest of the squad, who have hit a purple patch recently and scored 10 goals en route to winning their last two matches in the league.

"We have done well in our last few games, and if we can continue improving and maintain our level for the next 70 or 80 days, then we have a very good chance of achieving things," added Martino, who has also led his charges to the final of the Copa del Rey.

"Now we have to concentrate on the league. We have to aspire to winning every game we have left.

"It would be improper not to perform well in San Sebastian. Our intention is to play well and win."

Defender Jordi Alba is Barca's main absentee this weekend due to ongoing hamstring trouble.

Barca's last trip to San Sebastian in the league in January 2013 ended in a 3-2 defeat, and Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez is desperate to repeat that feat.

"We are obviously very keen to beat them, because whenever you beat Barcelona your spirits are lifted and it has huge consequences," he told Marca. "If we play well we'll have opportunities to get the win."

Barca have failed to beat Sociedad away from home since the Basques returned to the top flight in 2010, and Gonzalez believes his team no longer fear the Catalans.

"When you know you can beat them, it tells you you can beat them again," he said. "It's no coincidence that Barca haven't been able to win here at Anoeta for four years.

"Of course we'll have to play a perfect game and do everything right, but we can get a good result."

Sociedad head into the match in good form having lost just two of their last 11 in the league, and sit comfortably in sixth place, eight points clear of nearest challengers Sevilla and just four off fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.



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