FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.05.2009 12:16

Options in the defence

Jordi Clos

Even though Puyol is banned and Márquez and Milito injured, there are still a range of options in Barça’s defence for Wednesday’s visit to Chelsea. Cáceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Víctor Sánchez and even Busquets and Touré are vying for two spots.

Carles Puyol is suspended after his third yellow card and Rafa Márquez and Gaby Milito are injured which means Barça go into the return leg of their Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge with three defenders missing. Dani Alves at right-back and Gerard Piqué in the centre appear to be the only two fixtures in a defensive line that is normally four men strong.

Conventional options

Without Puyol, Márquez and Milito, the only central defender left to play alongside Piqué is Martín Cáceres. The Uruguayan has turned out in three Champions League games, ten in the League and seven in the Cup.

Éric Abidal has also played at centre back and if he turns out there on Wednesday that might mean a place for Sylvinho in the starting XI at left-back.

Another option is Víctor Sánchez, who has shown his all-round skills and ability to play in midfield, centre back and right-back.

Aces up the sleeve

Cáceres, Abidal and Víctor Sánchez would be the most conventional options, but Pep Guardiola has already shown he can be inventive in the face of adversity. For instance at Bernabéu he destroyed Juande Ramos’s plans with Messi between lines, and at home against Espanyol he surprised everyone by making Sergio Busquets centre forward for the last 25 minutes. He also used Busi as a central defender last season in the reserves.

Then there is Touré Yaya who is similar in many ways to Sergio Busquets. His size would make it hard for his compatriot Didier Drogba to get past him.