Sporting de Gijon vs Barcelona - Luis Enrique focused on win against childhood friend in Gijon

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique insists he is ready to pile the misery on his old school friend.

The 45-year-old grew up in Gijon along with Sporting coach Abelardo Fernandez and goes to El Molinon in La Liga on Wednesday.

Barca are unbeaten in 30 games, the longest unbeaten run in Spanish football history, following their 6-1 demolition of Celta Vigo at the weekend which has them three points clear at the top of La Liga.

Their trip to Sporting is Barca's game in hand and Enrique, while he wants his local team to succeed, will make no apologies for beating them.

He told AS: "I've been a club member since I was a kid and watched their games at the ground, with a flag made by my mum. Whenever I go back to El Molinon it's special.

"But I'm going there as Barca coach and the objective is always the same. We're going out there to win three crucial points.

"We've (Enrique and Fernandez) been great friends since we were seven years old. He's a very important person in my life, as are his family.

"I haven't seen him at close quarters as a coach, but what I have witnessed are his achievements. This year his side are well capable of staying up, and last season he took up a team that weren't among the best in their division.

"They're a really well-drilled side, with a solid defence that's the springboard from which they go on the attack. And they play at a stadium that always has a wonderful atmosphere.

"I hope the run doesn't end, but if it has to come to an end then let it be at El Molinon."

Other than Rafinha, there are no injury concerns in the Barca camp, but Jordi Masip, Douglas, Jordi Alba, Sandro and Sergi Roberto have all been left out of the squad.

Gijon - two points above the relegation zone - have not beaten Barca since 1994 and the teams have met 15 times since then, with the Catalan giants winning 13 times and drawing twice.

"It's a 90-minute game and anything can happen," said Fernandez. "We will try to make things very difficult for them, but Barca are unbeatable at the moment and it's tough to do damage against them."