Puyol, Piqué, Adriano and Maxwell are injured, while Dani Alves must complete a one-match ban, which carries from the last match of the league last season. This makes it the right side where the main Problems will be.
For the rest of the defence, Pep has the options to place Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets and central or Fontàs Andreu. Eric Abidal occupy the left-back. Pep Guardiola said yesterday he hopes to have both Puyol soon as Maxwell, possibly after the international break, but first they must face the match against Villarreal.