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Enrique has faith in Suarez

ELCHE v BARCELONA

(Tomorrow, 12.55am, Singtel TV Ch 115 & StarHub TV Ch 209)

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insists he is not worried by £75million Luis Suarez’s lack of touch in front of goal as he prepares to face Elche.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international has managed only five goals in 16 outings for his new club since his summer switch from Liverpool, and only two of them in the League.

But Enrique is convinced Suarezwill return to his lethal best sooner rather than later, after seeing him pass up a glorious opportunity during the midweek Copa del Rey victory over Atletico Madrid.

Enrique said: “I’m not worried about Luis Suarez not scoring.Wearedelighted with his performance, behaviour and everything he offers. Everyone makes mistakes: players, coaches, everybody. There are few players that move like Luis Suarez does in the box so how could I be worried?”

DUMPED

Second-placed Barca head into the weekend just a point adrift of Real Madrid, although the leaders have a game in hand.

They have met Elche three times already this season and scored 12 goals without reply. Barca opened the campaign with a 3-0 homewin over Fran Escriba’s men, and dumped them out of the Copa del Rey 9-0 on aggregate, winning 5-0 at the Nou Camp on January 8 before trouncing their hosts 4-0 in the return leg.

In the circumstances, Elche could be forgiven for dreading another visit from the Catalans, although their formhas improvedmarkedly in recent weeks.

Back-to-back wins over Athletic Bilbao and Levante, either side of their home drubbing by Barca, has doubled their tally for the season and left them a point clear of the drop zone.