Frank Rijkaard has only fifteen first team players available after Deco and Sylvinho dropped out today. Deco took a knock on the ankle playing for Portugal on Wednesday and Sylvinho has a muscle strain in his right leg. They join Toure, Eto’o, Bojan, Zambrotta, Puyol, Ezquerro and Jorquera on the absentee list. Three players from Barça B (all called Victor!)  have been called up to complete the 18-man squad.

We have seen Victor Sanchez against Alcoyano, and Victor Vazquez who played and scored in the Copa Catalunya against Gimnastic in September, but this is a first call up for 22-year-old left back Victor Espasandin who has been drafted in to cover for the loss of Sylvinho.

Sevilla are also missing players, but Palop is back in goal, and Kanoute and Keita are back from the African Cup Of Nations, so they will be stronger than they were for the 1-1 draw in the Copa del Rey in January. Sevilla have had problems this season but recently they are playing better, they always raise their game in the Sanchez Pizjuan against big teams as they have demonstrated this season with wins over Madrid (2-0) and Arsenal (3-1). Barça’s defence is likely to be seriously tested by Capel, Kanoute and Luis Fabiano.

With Puyol and Zambrotta missing, Rijkaard will have to find a new right back. It seems most likely that Oleguer Presas will return to the team to play for the first time since November (he hasn’t played a complete game since October). However, Rijkaard could also put Thuram at right back and move Rafa Marquez back to centre half. Marquez’s resistance will also be put to the test as he played 90 minutes for Mexico on Thursday morning (3am Spanish time) and missed training today.

Edmilson could return to the defensive midfield role; he played very well in the cup game in Seville before getting injured. Rijkaard will probably choose Xavi to replace Deco, but don’t be surprised if Gudjohnsen gets the nod to compete against the physical presence of Keita and Poulsen.

Up front it seems likely now that Ronaldinho will return to the starting lineup for the first time since December. Messi-Henry-Ronaldinho looks good on paper, but who would have thought at the start of the season that I’d be regretting the absence of a 17-year-old called Bojan Krkic. In recent games we have seen both Messi and Ronaldinho played in the centre, let’s hope that Rijkaard drops this idea tomorrow and returns Henry to the number 9 position. I’m all in favour of the forwards switching positions occasionally during a game, but we get the most out of Messi playing on the right and Ronnie on the left. Of course, Rijkaard may decide Ronnie isn’t ready and move Iniesta forward, playing Xavi and Gudjohnsen in midfield.

Barça need the points desperately to keep the pressure on Madrid, but it is going to be complicated to win. After Madrid’s defeat last week, perhaps a draw for Barça would not mean the end of the world as there would still be time for Barça to recover. However, culés would no doubt see a draw as a defeat, and we would see a return to the doom and gloom of two weeks ago. On a positive note, as El Sport pointed out this morning, four seasons ago, Barça began their comeback with a 0-1 win at Sevilla with a goal from Patrick Kluivert. Barça started that game on January 25 2004, eighteen points behind Madrid, and we finished the season above them. Who’s to say we can’t recover a measly six points this time?

Barça’s squad: Valdés, Pinto, Oleguer, Thuram, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Victor Espasandin, Edmilson, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Victor Vazquez, Iniesta, Victor Sanchez, Messi, Giovani, Henry, Ronaldinho.

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

My Prediction: Sevilla 1 Barça 2 - Yes we can!!!