FC Barcelona vs Villareal Preview

With Real Madrid losing to Valencia at Mestalla yesterday, FC Barcelona has their first oppurunity to win the League Title tonight. If Barca manages a victory against Villareal tonight, they will move ten points clear and make sure of their first title of this season. Guardiola would love to see his team round up the available titles as soon as possible. That will give them enough rest after a very hectic schedule. Guardiola has announced his squad for Villareal clash. Only the injutred stars - Henry, Milito and Marquez has been left out of the squad. The squad list is Valdés, Pinto, Jorquera, Alves, Puyol, Cáceres, Víctor Sánchez, Piqué, Sylvinho, Abidal, Touré, Keita, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Gudjohnsen, Hleb, Bojan, Messi and Eto'o. On any other day Guardiola would have preffered to rest his major stars but not tonight. We have a cup final coming in the mid week and hence it becomes more essesntial to enter the final with a victory. But we will be sure to have a peek into the Copa Del Rey starting eleven tonight.

Villareal is looking for to qualify for UEFA Champions League. They are currently trailing fourt placed Valencia by four points with tonight's macth in hand. A victory will take them closer by one point. Hence there won't be any let up by Villareal. Valdes will be again at the goal, eventhough Pinto will be the choice for Copa Del Rey. Alves, Abidal, Pique and Puyol will form the defense. But I expect Guardiola to rest both Toure and Xavi for tonight's match. So we could see a midfield with Iniesta, Keita and Gudjohnsen. The front three will be made up of Hleb, Eto and Bojan. Hleb and Bojan are expected to start against Bilbao mid-week and should get some quality time. I especially would like to see Hleb having a good day. This match could be a tough one for Barca players, but the knowledge that they can wrap the title at home tonight should give them the confidence. I am expecting a 2-1 victory.

Odds Against Thierry Henry

FC Barcelona forward Thierry henry is facing a race against time to get fit for the Champions League Final against Manchester United in Rome. Thierry Henry injured his right knee during the 6-2 thrashing of Real Madrid, he has already missed the semi-final clash against Chelsea. The club website has confirmed that he will be missing Copa Del Rey final and the League matches against Villareal, Mallorca and Osasuna. He is undergoing specific treatment inorder to get ready for the clash against Manchester United. This comes as another blow for Guardiola but the best thing he can hope is a timely recovery for Henry.Now this is already going to put Guardiola in more trouble. He as usual will be compelled to move Iniesta up the park. But I would say that it would be a kind of disaster if we decide to move Iniesta from midfield. So Guardiola has to make a choice between Pedro, Hleb and Bojan for the position on the left. I would prefer Pedro or Bojan.

The good thing for Guardiola is that he got time to experiment with all the formation for the final. But in between he and the players should remember that they haven't won anything yet. We need atleast five points from our last four games to win the La Liga. Ans Copa Del Rey has been one cup which eluded us for so long. Manwhile UEFA has allocated 19,544 for FC Barcelona for the Champions League final. The club has announced that 80% of the tickets will be put on sale. FC Barcelona will be considered as the home team for the final. The final will be held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The Stadio Olimpico matches the Nou Camp exactly in dimension and that will be a huge boost for FC barcelona.

Pep, What were you Thinking?

The Euphoria surrounding the last gasp entry into Champions League has slowly settled down. It was indeed a strange night, throught the match you were dissappointed by Barca's performance, I even had a headline for my match report "Chelsea Humiliates Barca" but for one man - Andres Iniesta, everything changed. One shot on target, one goal that was the story of the night. On a night when Barca's silky football was halted by a Chelsea defensive wall, it was the never say die attitude installed by Guardiola in his players which took us through. Much has been said about Guardiola's celebration after that goal. But people should understand his position, just minutes before the goal he looked completely as a man who has lost the last faint of hope. Guardiola sharing a laugh with Hiddink, which he normally wouldn't have done explain the same. So we can excuse him for that celebration. Guardiola has brought a sense of belief and commitment to the team which was missing Rijkaard's last two season.

Guardiola might have got the result he wanted, but there is no denial that he got all the tactical moves wrong at Stamford Bridge. He was put in a precarious position with the absence of two central defenders, but no one expected him to destroy his midfield to carve out a defense. This Barca side has the wonderful trio of Henry, Messi and Eto up front but the engine still lies in the midfield. If Barca win the midfield battle they will play comfortably throughout the match. Xavi, Toure and Iniesta are indispensible from that midfield. GUardiola by moving Iniesta up and Toure down gave the control of the game to Chelsea. Without Iniesta, Xavi can be easily double-marked in the middle. Some might have appreciated the effort Toure put in central defense, but still he never looked anywhere near to comfortable there. Guardiola should have included Caceres and Bojan in the side which would have preserved the midfield.

Bygones are bygones, so why fret? But we have to. Because we have to face a resurgent Manchester United side without our usual full backs. Alves was poor in last couple of day and Puyol should be able to fill that role. But then how we will align the central defense. The best way is to have Puyol in the centre and either Caceres/ Sanchez on the right. But it is essential that Guardiola leave the midfield as it is. He also should show more pro-activeness with substitutions. What was he thinking holding substitution till the 83rd minute. Bojan should have given more time to settle in the match. If we have to come out as the winner in Rome, we definitely want Guardiola to be on top of his job.