Precocious Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcántara is adamant that the Catalan giants can overturn their seven point deficit of Real Madrid and retain their La Liga crown.
"Of course we can fight back. Over the years we've demonstrated a lot of things," Thiago was quoted as saying on the club's official website.
"I think in the short term, and that means focusing on Real Sociedad. We cannot be concerned with Valencia or Bayer Leverkusen [right now]."
"We set weekly challenges for ourselves."
The Barca youth product also reflected on his side's 1-1 stalemate at Valencia during Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg clash.
"We didn't capitalize on our chances. We had a lot of them and we simply didn't finish them," he commented.
Thiago insisted that Barca are not solely reliant on Argentine sensation Lionel Messi.
"Messi is a born winner. We have the best player in the world, we are not dependent on him but we must take advantage of his virtues," he added.
Thiago also acknowledged that veteran goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto had made an error of judgment after handling the ball outside his box during Wednesday's encounter at the Mestalla, although he remarked that Barca got the benefit of the doubt.
"Luckily he (the referee) didn't make the right call," he conceded.
"The referees, with their virtues and defects, do their job, just like players do."
Sociedad make the trip to Catalonia in high spirits following their 5-1 mauling of Sporting Gijon last weekend - the first time the Basque club have netted five goals in a top-flight game since 2004.
That victory was the perfect response to their 4-0 home defeat by Atletico Madrid the previous week and helped lift Philippe Montanier's side, having propped up the table not so long ago, up to 12th spot on 24 points, four above the relegation places.
The loss to Atletico is the only defeat that Sociedad have suffered in their last nine league matches but they know how tough it will be to pick up anything from their trip to Barca having lost 5-0 in last season's corresponding fixture.
Forward Xabi Prieto said: "We're going there knowing that it's very difficult. They've only been held to one draw this season, and until facing Betis recently they hadn't conceded a single goal.
"They are probably the best team in the world, but we are going there with the hope of achieving something that nobody has managed until now.
"Last season we had things very difficult from the start. We need to make sure that doesn't happen again."
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