FORM GUIDE FOR BOTH TEAMS
Barcelona Oct 20 Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan (UEFA Champions League) Oct 17 Valencia 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga) Oct 3 Barcelona 1-0 Almeria (La Liga) Sept 29 Barcelona 2-0 Dynamo Kiev (UEFA Champions League) Sept 26 Malaga 0-2 Barcelona (La Liga)
Real Zaragoza Oct 18 Real Zaragoza 2-2 Racing Santander (La Liga) Oct 3 Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga) Sept 27 Real Zaragoza 3-0 Getafe (La Liga) Sept 24 Sporting Gijon 1-1 Real Zaragoza (La Liga) Sept 20 Real Zaragoza 1-2 Real Valladolid (La Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona Dmytro Chygrynskiy is available again after a month on the sidelines and should replace Rafael Marquez. Daniel Alves is set to miss three weeks and Thierry Henry is still a week away from full fitness.
Probable Starting XI (4-3-3) formation: Valdes – Puyol, Pique, Chygrynskiy, Abidal – Keita, Xavi, Iniesta – Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro
Real Zaragoza Leonardo Ponzio is suspended while Ikechukwu Uche is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury. Otherwise Marcelino has a full squad to chose from.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Carrizo– Paredes, Pavon, Ayala, Pulido – Gabi, Songo'o, Pennant, Aguilar, Lafita – Arizmendi.
Barcelona
When the pressure is on for Barcelona, one man who always gets his head down and works his way out of the mire is Andres Iniesta. If the Blaugrana misfire in this tie, he will chase everything until he or someone else makes something happen.
Real Zaragoza
Veteran defender Roberto Ayala will need to summon up all his experience and defensive craft to keep Barca at bay. A big performance from the Argentine may give the Blanquillos a surprise result here.
PREDICTION
Barcelona are renowned for winning games early and then controlling the remainder of the fixture at their pace. If Zaragoza can frustrate them in the first half hour, the hosts may start to feel the pressure. If they score early, however, it could be a familiar rout.
Barcelona 3-1 Real Zaragoza
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