Giovani dos Santos and Gabi Milito are the new names on the list for tomorrow’s game against Athletic Bilbao. Giovani will almost certainly start on the bench, but after his superb pre-season Frank Rijkaard may well decide to use him in the second half. Milito could be given his first start in a Barça shirt but it’s anyone’s guess as to which two from Milito, Thuram, Oleguer and Marquez will play as the central defence pairing.

Deco could also be in the first XI after having a good game in Wednesday’s win over Inter, he is in contention with Xavi and Iniesta for the two midfield places in front of Touré. It will be a big surprise if Rijkaard doesn’t opt for Messi-Henry-Ronaldinho up front, with Eto’o out injured this will be the usual forward line for quite a few games.

Rijkaard has called on all nineteen of his available players, so there is a place for Marc Crosas and also for Santi Ezquerro who failed to reach an agreement to return to Athletic. Who knows why he decided to stay at Barça, the only thing that occurs to me is that Athletic refused to equal his wages at Barça. It’s a shame since he will have practically no chances to play at Barça, maybe he will leave during the winter transfer window.

Athletic are under a new manager, Joaquin Caparrós, this season, and they will have a few new faces in their team. Recently signed Gorka Iraizoz will play in goal, and Asier Del Horno and David Cuellar are new to the defence, there will be no place, however, for Aitor Ocio as he was sent off in last week’s 0-0 draw at home to Osasuna. David Lopez signed from Osasuna will probably start in midfield, and since the sale of Urzaiz to Ajax, Athletic will play Llorente and/or Aduriz up front.

There are doubts about whether the game will be televised in Spain due to an ongoing row between two TV companies, Sogecable and Mediapro, over TV rights. It’s too complicated for me to understand, suffice to say I will be seriously annoyed if they don’t show it in the end. Does anyone know any internet streams?

Barça’s squad for the game: Valdés, Jorquera, Henry, Xavi, Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Iniesta, Abidal, Oleguer, Márquez, Deco, Messi, Touré Yayá, Thuram, Sylvinho, Milito, Ezquerro, Giovani, Marc Crosas.

My Prediction: Barça 3 Athletic 0

Kick Off 7pm.