Previews: Depor to short-circuit Barca midfield

"We know the ball has to go through midfield to get to the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi," he said. "We need to cause a short-circuit there. You need to get four, five or six players in the centre."

Unbeaten Barca have set a club record of 33 points from their opening 13 league matches but have struggled to impress on their travels this year. Wednesday's win in Xerez was their first in four away trips.

"We know every team studies and prepares for us in great detail," midfielder Seydou Keita said. "The only solution we have is to work harder than they do."

Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has worked apart from the squad all week recovering from a nagging groin injury, along with the injured Christoph Metzelder, Guti and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

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