Preview ( Barcelona vs Almeria )

Barcelona

Dmytro Chygrynskiy is out after straining knee ligaments last week. Bojan Krkic could return to the squad after a month on the sidelines, but Thierry Henry is unlikely to recover from his injury in time. Pep Guardiola will probably name his strongest possible side with the international break coming up.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal – Keita, Xavi, Busquets – Messi, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta

Almeria

Cameroonian central midfielder Modeste M'Bami could make his debut after signing a season-long deal with the club. Hugo Sanchez has no injury concerns going into the game and should field an unchanged side from that which drew with Racing Santander last week.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Diego Alves – Michel, Acasiete, Chico, Guilherme – Bernardello, Soriano – Nieto, Piatti, Crusat – Uche.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Barcelona

All eyes will be on Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to see if he can maintain his impressive start to life in La Liga by scoring for the Blaugrana in a sixth straight league game.

Almeria

Promising young Argentine Pablo Piatti could be the man to upset the odds at Camp Nou on Saturday. He managed a brace at the Vicente Calderon and has been a leading light for Almeria so far this season.

PREDICTION

A repeat of last years scoreline wouldn't be a surprise, especially given that Pep Guardiola doesn't have a fixture to concern him again until October 18. It should be a comprehensive home win.

Barcelona 5-0 Almeria