Recreativo Huelva, this season's La Liga surprise, will be out to ambush Barcelona when the Spanish league co-leaders travel to on Saturday (TV: GolTV, live, 2:30 pm ET).
Recre has already beaten such big teams as Real Madrid, Valencia and Atletico Madrid, and has won praise for its combination of possession soccer and lightning counterattacks. Young Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle, on loan from Liverpool, and Nigerian Ikechukwu Uche have given opposing teams fits with their pace.
Recre has just the sort of game that could pose problems for Barca, which looked very vulnerable on the counterattack in ts 3-3 tie with Real Madrid last week. Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has switched to a 3-4-3 formation from a 4-3-3 without great success. Former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff, whose words are often treated as gospel in the Catalan press, described Rijkaard's tactics as ''chaotic.''
Sinama Pongelle hopes Barca again lines up with only three in the back.
''I saw Barca's game against Liverpool where they [Liverpool] pressured them all over the field and it worked,'' he said. ''Real did the same last weekend and if we play the same way we can win. If they play with three defenders again it will be easier for us.''
Sevilla, which is level on points with Barca hosts Celta Vigo on Sunday (GolTV, live, 4 pm ET). Third-place Valencia, three points behind the top two, hosts Racing Santander on Saturday (GolTV, live, 12:30 pm ET). Fourth-place Real Madrid, five points off top spot, hosts relegation candidate Gimnastic (GolTV, delay, Monday, 9 pm ET).