Spain coach Luis Enrique blamed five minutes of "total loss of control" for his team's shock 2-1 defeat by Japan on Thursday, which saw them qualify for the World Cup last 16 second from Group E.

Luis Enrique said Spain will not count their chickens before they are hatched when they face Japan on Thursday, aiming to win and qualify for the World Cup knockout phase.

Spain coach Luis Enrique said his thoughts were with his late daughter Xana on what would have been her 13th birthday, after his side 's 1-1 World Cup draw with Germany on Sunday.

A serial winner on the pitch and in the dugout, Spain's new coach Luis Enrique brings a proven track record to an underachieving national team as well as a direct playing style and a reputation for personality clashes.

Luis Enrique clinched his ninth and last trophy with Barcelona on Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over Alaves in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona's inconsistency over the season had cost them the La Liga title, coach Luis Enrique says.

Neymar was sent-off as Barcelona lost further ground on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga in a shock 2-0 defeat to Malaga on Saturday.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted midfielder Andre Gomes will become a pillar of the Catalans' midfield after silencing his critics with his first goal for the club in a 4-2 win over Valencia on Sunday.

Coach Luis Enrique blamed Barcelona's shock 2-1 La Liga defeat at lowly Deportivo La Coruna on the exertions of their sensational midweek 6-1 Champions League win over Paris St Germain.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique labelled harsh treatment dished out to his players by Barca fans nonsensical as the Spanish champions squeezed past Leganes 2-1 on Sunday.

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored stunning goals to edge Barcelona towards a fourth consecutive King's Cup final with a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, although the holders were lucky to survive a late onslaught from the hosts.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says Neymar's performances remain at their peak, despite the Brazilian's flagging goal tally this season.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez hopes teammate Lionel Messi will follow his lead by signing a long-term contract to see out the remainder of his prime years at the Camp Nou.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos rescued a draw and maintained the European champions' six-point lead at the top of La Liga in a 1-1 draw at Barcelona on Saturday.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique lamented what he described as the worst display of his time in charge as the Catalan giants escaped with a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Barcelona will put Manchester City to the sword if they commit the same kind of errors as they did in their Champions League encounter last month, coach Luis Enrique has said.

Three points from Barcelona's 3-0 win over Sevilla at the Camp Nou secures the Spanish Super Cup with a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Luis Suarez insists the Spanish Super Cup is not Barcelona's yet after helping his team shoot down Sevilla 2-0 to give them a comfortable lead after the first leg of the final.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has a tough decision to make before his side's first game of the season against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup first leg on Sunday.

So it all comes down to this. With just one round remaining in La Liga, a single point separates Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table. Everything will be decided on a spectacular Saturday evening - and the build-up in Spain is already intense.