Laporta: Win Tonight, Then Focus On The League

Barcelona might be the form side in La Liga but their president, Joan Laporta, knows that they have a tricky calendar coming up as Christmas approaches.

The Catalan side face Sevilla, Valencia, Real Madrid and Villarreal in their next four league matches, hence it is no surprise Laporta wants their Champions League group wrapped up as soon as possible.

"The game today is very important so that we finish top of the group and do not have to face any last day drama," he told AS.

"We will be able to focus on the league, where we have a difficult fixture list and we will need to concentrate."

Barcelona face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League tonight and with the Catalan side in great form at the moment they will be confident of getting all three points.

A victory would see them finish top of the group ahead of Sporting potentially and Laporta wrote off any dependence the side have on Lionel Messi.

"The squad is big and has a lot of quality, we are prepared to win with, or without, Messi," declared the president.


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