Real Sociedad players celebrate their win at the end of the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) quarter-final football match Real Madrid CF against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Feb 06, 2020. (JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

MADRID - FC Barcelona face a major test of character when they entertain Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.

The Basque side travels to Barcelona with hopes of a top-four finish this season and with their morale sky high after booking their place in the final of the Copa del Rey knockout competition for the first time in 32 years on Wednesday night.

That game, which sets up a historic Basque Derby in the final against Athletic Club Bilbao, may have taken some juice out of 'la Real's' legs

That game, which sets up a historic Basque Derby in the final against Athletic Club Bilbao, may have taken some juice out of 'la Real's' legs, but on their day the side from San Sebastian is capable of playing arguably the best football in Spain, with players such as Mikel Oyarzabal, Mikel Merino, Alexander Isak and Adnan Januzaj offering goals, pace and movement and are sure to cause problems for a Barca defense still without the injured Sergi Roberto.

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Last Sunday's defeat to Real Madrid was both a sporting and morale blow to Barca, who looked to run out of steam in the second half and visibly wilt in the face of Real Madrid's pressure. Coach Quique Setien needs to see players such as Frenkie de Jong impose themselves more on games, while Antoine Griezmann for all of his running, still doesn't look like an ideal fit to play alongside Leo Messi - who quite simply cannot do it all on his own.

A further setback for Barca would almost certainly set off alarm bells in a club where one defeat is considered a crisis and this week saw stories of dressing room discontent with Setien, questions over the attitude of his assistant, Eder Sarabia and doubts over the future of goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

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Title aspirations apart, Barca have no option but to win in order to maintain peace in the club, but the fact is that they possibly could not have picked a tougher rival for Saturday's game.