According to Sky Sports, Barcelona executives are already preparing for life after Luis Enrique. With the first El Clasico of the season coming up on Saturday, defeat would leave the blaugrana nine points behind their bitter rivals and after another disappointing result away to Real Sociedad on Sunday, rumours are mounting that Enrique, whose contract at the club expires in the summer, could leave before the end of the season.
 

The two names that top the list of potential successors are Jorge Sampaoli, currently in charge of Sevilla and Atletic Bilbao tactician Ernesto Valverde. The former only arrived in La Liga in the summer after four years in charge of the Chilean national team. 52-year-old Valverde has been at the helm in Bilbao since 2013 and spent two years as a player at the Camp Nou from 1988-90.   

The pressure is certainly on Luis Enrique as he prepares for what is probably the biggest game in club football, defeat could see another nail firmly inserted into his coffin.


Steve Mitchell @barafundler