Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will target a record-equalling 38th straight game without defeat when his side host Leganes on Saturday, a Liga milestone which former bosses Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique were incapable of achieving. The runaway leaders have not lost in the league since going down 2-0 at Malaga on April 8, 2017 and can match Real Sociedad's 38-year-old unbeaten run against Leganes, who are 14th in the standings with their top-flight status virtually guaranteed. Barca have a nine-point lead over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings and could further widen that gap by the end of the weekend, with Atletico facing a gruelling derby away to champions Real Madrid on Sunday.

The Catalans looked destined to fall painfully short of the record, which has stood since 1980, when they were two goals down with two minutes left at Sevilla last week but quick-fire strikes from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi sealed a 2-2 draw. Barca are also unbeaten in the Champions League this campaign and took a giant stride towards the semi-finals of the competition by beating AS Roma 4-1 on Wednesday, staying on course for a treble.

With eight games remaining and no away trips against top-eight opposition left, Barca are also strongly-placed to become the first team in the history of La Liga to finish a season without tasting defeat. They do, however, still have to play at home to champions Real Madrid and fourth-placed Valencia.