FCB without Messi and PP

FC Barcelona play Levante at home in the first day of Spanish league action of 2011. I wonder how many people will watch the marathon as we have 4 live matches in a row starting at 1600hrs and ending at Midnight! We only officially knew there would be a jornada last Thursday as the league and players' union are in dispute over various matters, that one will run and run until maybe the players work out that one of the reasons clubs can't pay their wages is because they are quite simply too high.

Levante are from Valencia, indeed they were formed before Valencia CF, and have never won anything ever unless you count the Spanish Cup they won in Sarria (Barcelona) in 1937. Poor buggers, the only cup they have ever won and it is not officialy recognised by the authorities. This is their sixth ever season in the top flight and FCB have won all 5 previous league meetings in the Camp Nou, the last being a 5-1 victory in 2008, Etoò hat-trick included plus a goal by Xavi who today equals Migueli's all-time appearance record of 549 games for the club. Migueli was the first "Tarzan" with of course Carlos Puyol being the second.

Players to watch out for today include ex-Espanyol player Sergio Gonzalez in midfield and Xavi Torres (ex-FCB), watching Xavi Torres in their last game (a 8-0 defeat in the Bernabeu) you can see the Masia written all over Sr. Torres. Unfortunately for the granotas their top scorer, Caicedo on loan from Man City, is out injured so they will rely on Rubén and Stuani (5 goals between them) in their attempt to perform the Herculean task of getting a victory.

FC Barcelona will be without Messi, Puyo and Pique so the back four should be Maxwell, Abidal, Alves and Bartra. Marc Bartra has already played in both the Kings' Cup and CL this season and the 19-year old has shown more than great promise as a centre-half, full back and in the pivot position.

Difficult to see FCB not winning this one and then immediately turning their attention to Wednesday's vital Cup match in San Mames. They go into the return leg 0-0 and will be keen to strike first in a game complicated by the absence of Captain Puyol.

Prediction:

FCB 3-1 Levante