It's been a hectic season for Ernesto Valverde and Barcelona, as they continue to keep their hope of winning a treble this season alive. With the team already in Copa del rey Final after sending their arch rivals Real Madrid packing from the competition, one can only imagine who can stop them from grabbing their treble. Well, Maybe Klopp and Liverpool look likely to cause an upset in the champions league, as both sides will be battling it out to know who qualifies for the Final scheduled to take place at Madrid. It will really be nice seeing Barcelona lift the Champions league again, not just that, but at Madrid's backyard. But that's by the way, as for their quest to hit a treble, it's just good you know they are still on track.

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It wasn't a rollercoaster ride for the defending champions on Saturday when Camp Nou played host mid-table occupants Real Sociedad, who really have nothing too tangible to play for except their pride. It was one if those matches when the only factor that ensured the Catalans victory was their Class and nothing more. The defending champions were once again far below their best against a resilient Real Sociedad side whom only quest was to leave Camp Nou with point or points. Though the match ended 2-1 in favour of the host, one can tell how hopeful Liverpool will be if only Barcelona would replicate same performance they put up against Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Well, the win ensured that the Blaugrana restored their nine points lead against Athletico Madrid who are trying their best to stay hopeful and wish the league leaders will slip to their favour. Diego Simeone's side had beaten Eibar 1-0 earlier on Saturday afternoon, that victory reduced the gap between them and Barcelona to six points. They may have hoped that Valverde will drop points against Sociedad, however, that's always a hard nut to crack at the camp Nou. Barcelona currently sits top of the league table with 77 points to their name after 33 games so far. Athletico Madrid are second on the log with 68 points, that's a big gap at this point of the season against a team like Barcelona, if you ask me.

Well, the mid-week had seen Barcelona throw in all their strength against Manchester United at the Camp Nou to ensure that they break their Champions league quarter-final jinx for the past three years. Maybe they didn't just wanna go too hard on Sociedad to avoid injuries ahead of their clash with a high flying Liverpool side come 1st May. But they had to win anyway, try as much as they can to wrap up La liga and avoid pressure. That will enable them keep their winning morale and perhaps send a message across to Anfield, that in Camp Nou, it takes a lot to defeat below-standard Barce team talk more of when they're at their wheels.

Though Real Sociedad really had nothing to play for, bit they made sure Barcelona will need a luck to deny them of leaving Camp Nou with full three points or a point, as the case may be. They deserved at least a point. The visitors should have taken the lead earlier, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen proved why he is Barcelona's no. 1 when he saved a shot that was goal-bound by Juanmi, however, willian Jose's rebound was not as he would have intended, as it went over the Cross Bar. But why they continued to mismanage their chances, Barcelona had to made sure they suffer for their profligacy in front of post. Just before halftime, the defending champions were put in front after Ousmane Dembele's corner was converted by Clement Lenglet with a powerful header.

No doubt, even though Barcelona were one goal up before the break, their performance in the first 45 minutes was nothing to write home about, and even Messi was looking too dull for my liking. Maybe he was instructed not to force the ball against Sociedad, to avoid any possibility of injury threat ahead of Liverpool's visitation at the Camp Nou. Messi had fired two goals against Ole Gunnar's Manchester United to see them off, and the Argentine remains the Bluagrana's talisman. How relieved Liverpool will be hearing that the most dangerous player on earth will not be in the Lineup. Trust me, nothing is more inspiring than at this moment. So I believe, he was trying to be cautious. However, the team generally played without much gusto and drive and trust me, they were lucky to emerge victorious in that match.

The Second half saw Barcelona struggling to keep possession as Real Sociedad left no stone unturned in pressuring for an equaliser. The visitors were taking advantage of Barcelona's laxity and it didn't take too long for their reward to arrive. Obviously, Liverpool must have taken delight in how Mikel Merino explored the Catalan's defence and opened it, sliding a pass to Juanmi who finally put it past a stubborn Ter Steven. If not for anything, the goal was a relief for the Basque and it gave them more confidence to push for an equaliser. But Barca knew they were beginning to take too much from Sociedad, and even though they were far from their best, they couldn't condescend so low to draw or lose at Camp Nou. It didn't take long for Barcelona to hit back, and with Messi providing an assist for Alba, the left back made no mistake in sending the ball right into the bottom corner. It was Alba's goal that sealed the win. And it left only one message for Liverpool, and that is "even at our worst moments, it takes more than hardwork to leave the Camp Nou with a win."