<p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barcelona.svg_.png"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-9216" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Barcelona.svg_-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/R_sporting_de_gijon.png"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-10778" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/R_sporting_de_gijon-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> FC BARCELONA</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong>v</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong>SPORTING DE GIJON</strong> Camp Nou, Barcelona September 22, 2010, 1800 GMT</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The defending champions embark on a journey to protect their only silverware of last season. The absence of talismanic striker, Lionel Messi, will indeed prevent Barca from playing their mesmerising brand of football. Nonetheless the <em>Catalans</em> have a good enough team to <a href="http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/09/20/n100920113029.html" target="_blank">win against any top side in Europe without the Argentine</a>. Sporting de Gijon maybe one of the few<em> ‘lucky’</em> ones who will not have to face the <em>almost unstoppable</em> Argentine, but getting all three points from the <em>Camp Nou</em> is very difficult albeit not impossible.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Pep Guardiola has stated that the player's ankle injury is not too serious -</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"<em>Messi came off the pitch crying and in great shock. It could have been worse, but in the dressing room the doctors ruled out a break</em>".</p> <p style="text-align: justify">After having a tumultuous start to their league campaign, the Catalans now see one of their most vital lieutenants out for <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11833_6387873,00.html" target="_blank">at least a couple of weeks</a> which includes the upcoming game at home against Sporting de Gijon, away at Athletic Club and another crucial away tie at Russia against Rubin Kazan amongst others.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Life without Messi isn't easy"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/villarreal-barcelona/image/8680526?term=pep+Guardiola" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8680526/villarreal-barcelona/villarreal-barcelona.jpg?size=500&imageId=8680526" border="0" alt="May 02, 2010 - Villarreal, Spain - VILLARREAL (SPAIN) 01/05/2010.- Argentinian FC Barcelona striker Leo Messi (L) embraces his coach Pep Guardiola (R) after be changed by his team mate Jeffren (not at the imag) during their First Division soccer League match against Villarreal CF played at Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain on 01 May 201." width="400" height="264" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify">The match against Sporting de Gijon might just see Andres Iniesta playing a more advanced role with Pedro and Villa to form a three-man attack. Javier Mascherano, in all probabilities, will be getting a start along with Xavi and Busquets in midfield. Bojan’s lack of form might just cost him a berth in the starting line-up. But keeping in mind some challenging away matches, the Barca manager might just be tempted to keep him in shape by handing the youngster a few precious minutes. Eric Abidal isn’t available for this match either which means his Brazilian counterpart will be getting yet another start.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The match would see Sporting manager Manuel Preciado meeting the <em>Catalan</em> giants for the 5th time with Sporting de Gijon. Unfortunately for the visitors, FC Barcelona has won all the four encounters, the most closely contested match being a 0-1 win away at <em>El Molinón</em>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Sporting, too have their share of injuries. Veteran Spanish striker Nacho Novo is side-lined because of a hamstring injury. The former Rangers man might also miss their weekend’s tie against Valencia. Sporting have four points so far, but were pegged back from 2-0 up by Bilbao at home on Saturday and lost their only away match 4-0 to Atletico on the opening weekend of the season</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Probable Starting Lineups</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>FC Barcelona:</strong> Valdes(GK), Puyol, Pique, Alves, Maxwell, Mascherano, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Villa, Pedro.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="FC Barcelona: Possible Starting Line-Up"]<img style="border: 0pt none" src="http://this11.com/boards/1285098667522650.jpg" border="0" alt="Football Fans Know Better" width="269" height="412" />[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Sporting de Gijon:</strong> Colinas(GK), Gregory, Botia, Canella, Ramos, Equren, Rivera, Gimenez, Cuevas, Sangoy, Luis Moran.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR:</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><em><strong>David Villa (FC Barcelona)</strong></em></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="David Villa: In the absence of Messi, he'll be one of the biggest threats to the opposition"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/world-news-august-2010/image/9559175?term=David+Villa+spain" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0pt" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9559175/world-news-august-2010/world-news-august-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9559175" border="0" alt="Aug. 16, 2010 - Barcelona, Spain - BARCELONA, 16/08/2010.- FC Barcelona's Spaniard striker David Villa, prior to a press conference held after a team's training session in Barcelona, Catalonia, northeastern Spain, 16 August 2010." width="350" height="307" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify">It is quite common that players in attacking positions hog most of the limelight. Moreover in the absence of the little Argentine, the Spanish superstar will be the pivot of the <em>Catalans</em> attack in the final third. With some very decent performances for the home side, David Villa is <span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>THT’s Player To Watch Out For</em></span>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Past encounters:</strong></span></p> 2009-10: FC Barcelona 3-0 Sporting de Gijon; Sporting de Gijon 0-1 FC Barcelona 2008-09: FC Barcelona 3-1 Sporting de Gijon; Sporting Gijon 1-6 FC Barcelona <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION:</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify">FC Barcelona 3-0 Sporting de Gijon.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"> <p style="text-align: justify"> </p>