Matchday 2 - Featured Preview: Barcelona vs Hercules

The featured match this weekend is the Saturday night opener when promoted side Hercules travel to the Camp Nou to face Spanish champions Barcelona. Pep Guardiola’s side are obviously favourites ahead of this encounter, but what would normally look like a straightforward affair has been complicated somewhat by the late addition of some star names to Esteban Vigo’s squad.

BARCELONA

Player to Watch: Lionel Messi

Barcelona got off to the perfect start on matchday one as they brushed Racing Santander aside with a 0-3 victory away from home despite being some way off their very best form. That match was partly overshadowed by the speculation surrounding the possible transfer of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic; he has since left the Catalan club in favour of a return to Italy with AC Milan and Pep Guardiola has seen his midfield bolstered by the arrival of Javier Mascherano. The opening day win was particularly satisfying given Real Madrid's failure to beat Mallorca at the Ono Estadi, meaning the blaugrana have already stolen a march on their bitter title rivals at this early stage. Guardiola will be expecting to maintain at least a two point advantage after Saturday's clash with promoted side Hercules, who visit the Camp Nou with a lot of new high profile faces but still with the tag of underdogs at the home of the champions.

Zlatan's departure makes deciding the forward trio in Guardiola’s 4-3-3 system slightly less complicated than it might have been. Lionel Messi and David Villa will be the automatic choices for important fixtures this season and I can envisage Pedro being the most likely to join them in the front three. Young goal scoring prodigy Bojan, who is the first Spanish player to wear the number 9 in nearly two decades, will be competitive as well, of course, but we may find that his chances are still limited as Andres Iniesta will be used increasingly often as a left or right-sided forward. That frees up a spot in the midfield three for Argentinean captain Javier Mascherano to tie down a place next to Sergio Busquets and Xavi Hernandez. Carles Puyol is stepping up his recuperation from a leg injury which kept him out at the Sardinero two weeks ago but remains a doubt having missed the international games with Spain since then. Gabi Milito would be the most likely replacement in the back four if the skipper doesn’t make it, despite the fact that Eric Abidal shifted inside to deputise last time at short notice. Gerard Pique and Dani Alves will complete a back four with Abidal on the left barring any last minute problems.

Possible starting XI: (4-3-3) Victor Valdes; Eric Abidal, Gabi Milito; Gerard Pique, Dani Alves; Javier Mascherano, Xavi, Sergio Busquets; Lionel Messi, David Villa, Pedro;

HERCULES

Player to Watch: David Trezeguet

There is a definite buzz of optimism reverberating around Hercules following their late flurry in the transfer market last week. Recruiting big names like David Trezeguet was beyond the fans' wildest dreams a few months ago, but all credit to club president Valentin Botella and his boardroom team who have managed to convince Trezeguet - and fellow recruits Royston Drenthe, Mohammed Sarr and Nelson Valdez - that promoted club Hercules can match their ambition. Esteban Vigo's team was not overawed in the first match of the season, which they lost 0-1 to Athletic Bilbao at the Jose Rico Perez. They were, after all, beaten by Athletic's set-piece machine, which has claimed much grander victims, so they should not be too down on themselves. Producing a positive result against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Saturday will be even harder but they will now dare to dream of an upset with the extra quality being absorbed into the ranks.

There was good news from the federation this week as Matias Fritzler's second yellow card in the match against Athletic was rescinded so he will not have to serve the obligatory one-match suspension. He could start in central midfield again if he can push ahead of Abel Aguilar and Tiago Gomes in the middle of the park; playmaker Javier Farinos is still crocked so he is not yet ready to compete there. Tote will take up a position on the right flank again and we hope to see more of his cunning and trickery this weekend; David Trezeguet may well be able to capitalise where Javier Portillo could not from Tote’s defence-splitting passes. Whether or not Sendoa starts on the left could depend on where Esteban Vigo intends to utilise Real Madrid loan signing Royston Drenthe. The Dutchman can play at either left back or on the wing but would probably prefer a position higher up the pitch. I hope we see both Trezeguet and Nelson Valdez together up front. Valdez’s addition to the team has been overshadowed by Trezeguet’s arrival but let’s not forget that he was a starting World Cup striker for Paraguay. Their inclusion would mean Javier Portillo dropping to the bench, which is really no more than he deserves after a wasteful performance two week's ago against the Basques. If Mohammed Sarr also makes a debut at the back then one of Abraham Paz, David Cortes, Sergio Rodriguez and Pena will be disappointed by Vigo’s decision to rotate them out of the side. Juan Calatayud will keep the number one jersey in goal.

Possible starting XI: (4-4-2) Juan Calatayud; David Cortes, Sergio Rodriguez, Abraham Paz, Mohammed Sar; Tote, Tiago Gomes, Abel Aguilar, Royston Drenthe; David Trezeguet, Nelson Valdez;