<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="../wp-content/uploads/2010/10/200px-FCB.svg_.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-11601" src="../wp-content/uploads/2010/10/200px-FCB.svg_.png" alt="" width="154" height="154" /></a><strong>FC BARCELONA</strong><a href="../wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Rcd_mallorca.png"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11602" src="../wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Rcd_mallorca.png" alt="" width="154" height="154" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>v</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>RCD MALLORCA</strong> Camp Nou, Barcelona October 04, 2010, O230 IST</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">An FC Barcelona team without Lionel Messi has been in the news for the past few days. This weekend, the little man is back. Another little man from Spain will not be available for the defending champions this time. Xavi Hernandez has been <a href="http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/10/01/n101001113229.html" target="_blank">ruled out</a> of Sunday’s <em>Primera Liga</em> clash against Real Mallorca. The diminutive Spaniard has been suffering from a Achilles tendon problem. He’s been omitted from the Spain squad for next week’s games against Lithuania and Scotland too. After playing continuously for FC Barcelona and Spain for the past two years, Xavi deserves this rest and a chance to recuperate from the ailment.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Come Sunday and Pep Guardiola will be up against his former teammate – Michael Laurdup. “<em>He played so well, I’m sure he’s got to be a good manager too. He played his best football when he was here and when I played with him we always tried to give him the ball as we knew he’d just do something special</em>”, said Guardiola about the Dane.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Michael Laudrup: Back to Nou Camp"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/world-news-july-2010/image/9274057?term=michael+Laudrup" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9274057/world-news-july-2010/world-news-july-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9274057" border="0" alt="July 02, 2010 - Palma De Mallorca, ISLAS BALEARES, Espa a - PALMA DE MALLORCA, 02/07/2010.- Danish coach Michael Laudrup, during a press conference held in Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, 02 July, where he was presented as new coach of RCD Mallorca for the next two seasons." width="350" height="373" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Known for his immaculate preparation, Guardiola insists that his team is playing <a href="http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/10/02/n101002113249.html" target="_blank">better than in his first year</a>. The team coped quite well in the absence of talismanic striker Lionel Messi. The absence of midfield lynchpin, Xavi, will definitely reduce some of the creativity of the <em>Catalan</em> side. However, with the amount of backup that they have, <em>coping</em> should not be much of an issue. Along with Xavi, Adriano looked set to miss out. Thankfully, the Brazilian made a <a href="http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/10/02/n101002113243.html" target="_blank">comeback to training</a> and is expected to be included in the squad. David Villa on the other hand is suspended following his red card in last weekend's 3-1 win at Athletic Bilbao. The availability of <a href="http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/09/30/n100930113220.html" target="_blank">Golden Boot winner</a>, Lionel Messi, will definitely be a boost for Pep Guardiola’s team.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Real Mallorca too has their share of problems. Defenders Nunes, Enrique Corrales and Ayoze Diaz all miss out, which means Laudrup will be forced to make changes at the back. Up front, Tuni and Victor Casadesus are also side-lined. The <em>Los Bermellones </em>like to play in a 4-1-3-2, but due to the absence of some key personnel, a 5-4-1 or a 4-5-1 is expected.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mallorca have picked up seven points from a possible nine so far at home, but have lost both of their away matches. Without the creativity of Xavi, Mallorca will look towards pressing the Barca midfield and try and garner chances which might just help them to fetch a point, maybe even all three.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The <em>Los Bermellones</em> went down 2-0 at Sporting Gijon and then lost 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao. Laudrup is hoping for an improvement on that form.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">"<em>We need to do better away from home. This is a hugely difficult match, but it is also one the players will be motivated for</em>”, said the Dane</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Probable starting line-up:</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>FC Barcelona:</strong> Valdes(GK), Puyol, Pique, Alves, Abidal, Mascherano, Kieta, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Bojan.</p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="FC Barcelona: Possible Starting Line-Up"]<img style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://this11.com/boards/1286052565457998.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="336" height="515" />[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RCD Mallorca:</strong> Dudu Aouate(GK), Ruben Gonzalez, Jose Luis Marti, Martí Crespí, Pablo Cendros Lopez, Guzman, Castro, Emilio Nsue, Sergi Enrich, Pereira, Tomás Pina Isla.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <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;"><strong>Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)</strong></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="380" caption="Lionel Messi: Back After a Hiatus"]<img class=" " style="border: 0px initial initial;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9876490/barcelona-messi-challenges/barcelona-messi-challenges.jpg?size=500&imageId=9876490" border="0" alt="Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) challenges Rubin Kazan's Christian Noboa during their Champions League Group D soccer match at Central stadium in Kazan September 29, 2010. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)" width="380" height="286" />[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The little man is back in the team. After succumbing to a horrible tackle by Ujfalusi, the Argentine was out of the team for a couple of games in a row. Starting as a substitute against Rubin Kazan away at Russia, Messi will surely be ready for this match. Winning the Golden Boot will only have bolstered his confidence and he’ll be raring to have a go at the Mallorca defence. Yet again, Lionel Messi is <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>TheHardTackle’s Player To Watch Out For</em></span>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Past Encounters:</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2009-10</strong>: FC Barcelona 4-2 RCD Mallorca; RCD Mallorca 0-1 FC Barcelona</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2008-09</strong>: FC Barcelona 3-1 RCD Mallorca; RCD Mallorca 2-1 FC Barcelona</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2007-08</strong>: FC Barcelona 2-3 RCD Mallorca</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <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 RCD Mallorca</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p>