Maximum requirements

Barcelona (FCB).- There’s no place like home. Especially after winning back to back games on the road. With Mallorca and Valencia both shut out in brilliant fashion as FC Barcelona collected six crucial points, they are now back in front of their own fans. But coach Guardiola is likely to miss the game due to a slipped disc, and may have to watch on TV as his side goes out in search of another win to further consolidate their strong lead in the domestic championship.

Europe on the horizon

The league season is slowly drawing to an end, and maximum concentration is required, whatever the opposition. On Saturday, it’s Zaragoza, who have been dicing with relegation all season and desperately need whatever points they can get. Meanwhile, many Barça minds are already on Tuesday’s decisive Champions League encounter with Arsenal. So tonight the maximum concentration will be required of the team, who need to put Europe out of their heads for one more day.

Valdés and Jeffren are back

It is wonderful news that Jeffren, who hasn’t been in a Barça squad since the cup match away to Betis in January, was declared fully fit on Thursday. And we also welcome back Víctor Valdés, who has missed every game since the one at the Emirates but who got the medical all-clear on Friday. The only player injured now is Puyol, although he is also well on the way to recovery.

Missing visitors

Javier Aguirre does not share such a joyous position. His injury list now features Leo Franco, Lafita, Braulio and Boutahar and he also has Contini, Gabi and Ponzio out through suspension. That’s an extraordinary seven first team players missing, so it’s going to be a very unusual side that Zaragoza put out against the league leaders, at a time when they are only two points safe from the relegation zone.

 

THE DETAIL

2-0 earlier this season

When the same two sides met at La Romareda earlier this season, FC Barcelona won 2-0 thanks to a Leo Messi brace against what was then the bottom-placed side in the league.