Frank Rijkaard has included Toure Yaya, Gianluca Zambrotta and Rafa Marquez in the squad for tomorrow’s game at home to Almeria which kicks off at 7pm Spanish time (don’t forget to put your clocks back tonight). Also included is Leo Messi but it will be a last minute decision whether he plays or not.

The return of these three players from injury will be a massive boost, Toure especially has been missed. The players left out to make room are Lillian Thuram, Marc Crosas and Santi Ezquerro, I’m a bit surprised about the exclusion of Thuram as I felt he had a very good game in Glasgow. It will be interesting to see the defence chosen, but I imagine Puyol will move back to centre half and either Zambrotta or Oleguer will play at right back. Toure should start in the defensive midfield position which will mean Iniesta will be allowed to go forward more. I also wonder if Rijkaard will insist with Henry on the left and Ronaldinho as a ‘false’ centre forward, personally I’d rather see Henry in the middle.

Almeria have started the season better than many people expected, at the start of the season they were probably one of the favourites to be relegated, but they are currently 9th in the table with 11 points from 8 games. Their manager Unai Emery, who is only 35 years old, is a believer in attacking football, and Almeria will probably play with a 4-3-3 formation. They did this back in September when they played Madrid in the Bernabeu, and they were unlucky to lose 3-1, they might have given Madrid a closer game if it hadn’t been for the sending off of Albert Crusat. This was Almeria’s only defeat on the road so far this season and they have chalked up two away wins at Deportivo and at Murcia. The players to watch are Alvaro Negredo who began his career at Real Madrid, Brazilian Felipe Melo and Crusat.

Barça have named the following eighteen players in the squad: Valdés, Jorquera, Zambrotta, Oleguer, Marquez, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Sylvinho, Touré Yaya, Iniesta, Xavi, Ronaldinho, Giovani, Messi, Gudjohnsen, Bojan, Henry.

Possible starting XI: Valdés; Oleguer, Puyol, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Iniesta; Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho.

Prediction: Barça 3 Almeria 1 (Why don’t you send your predictions)