FC Barcelona would be hoping to to win their first match of this La Liga season when they face Sporting Gijon at El Molinon. FC Barcelona had a rather rocky start to their League season - losing at Numancia and Racing held them to a draw. But last two matches have showed very good improvement in the attitude and we should be able to see FC Barcelona returning bact to some form. FC Barcelona lies now 15th in the table whereas their opponents are the lies at the bottom. Barcelona's inability to lift their game away from home would be the biggest problem for Barca. But still we can realistically hope that Barca will be able to register their first win away from home today. Thierry Henry is not available for this match as he has not yet recovered from a throat infection. The squad picked by Guardiola is Valdes, Pinto, Alves, Pique, Marquez, Puyol, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Eto’o, Abidal, Toure Yaya, Caceres, Bojan, Keita, Messi, Pedro and Busquets. It is not still clear who will play what position. There has been a spate of criticsm to messi's attitude so he could be stumbling into troubled waters.
The biggest question will be which formation would Barcelona prefer to play? Barcelona may for a second time in succession would be going for a 3-4-3 formation rather than their usual 4-3-3 formation. In that case Abidal will miss out from the starting eleven. Henry should be replaced mostly by Iniesta and Busquests should return back to the midfield along with Xavi and Keita. But Iniesta has been the creative haed of the midfield, so we can see Bojan or Pedro taking Henry's position, whereas Iniesta will remain in midfield. If I had my way I would have dropped Messi from eleven and brought Pedro. The attitude shown by him in last match was pathetic and Guardiola needs to make it clear to Messi.