Barcelona - Almeria preview - Enrique wary of Sergi surprise

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has warned his team to expect an Almeria side aiming to impress new boss Sergi when the Primera Division strugglers head to the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Former Barca full-back Sergi was handed the reins of the Andalusian club until the end of the season on Monday, following the sacking of Juan Ignacio Martinez.

And Enrique, who was a team-mate of Sergi's for five years, is all too aware of the galvanising effect a new manager can have on an under-achieving team.

"Managerial changes are a way of stimulating a team and its players," he said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, quoted on club website www.fcbarcelona.com.

"That could be dangerous for us.

"He's a friend and I am often in contact with him. I am very glad that he's been offered this opportunity and I hope he makes the most of it. But only from Thursday onwards!"

The 43-year-old could take his place in the Almeria dugout on Wednesday, if all the necessary paperwork is completed in time.

Martinez got the boot on Sunday following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at home to Levante - a result which left the team in the relegation zone, a point adrift of safety.

Barcelona, on the other hand, ground out a 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo on Sunday evening to retain the four-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid which had been reduced earlier in the day when Carlo Ancelotti's side thrashed Granada 9-1.

"If we want to win the league, then we have to make sure we win this game," Enrique added.

"We'll be taking this game as seriously as any other, knowing that we have to get things right if we want to be sure of the three points."

Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen joined in with some parts of the squad training on Tuesday morning, while left-back Jordi Alba worked away from the group as he continued his recovery from the thigh injury sustained on Spain duty.

Almeria will be without defenders Michel, Fran Velez and midfielder Verza through injury, while centre-back Mauro dos Santos and utility man Sebastian Dubarbier are absent through suspension.

Left-back Mane and on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas return, however, after serving bans.

Despite Almeria's lowly position, Sergi was upbeat about their survival prospects after being unveiled on Monday.

"This is a team that, exploiting the strengths of their players, has to be higher in the standings," he said on club website www.udalmeriasad.com.

"We must work on this."

He added: "There are many teams involved in the fight against relegation, and one who thinks they are already safe may fall."