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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BARCELONA  Valdes Alves, Mascherano, Adriano Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Thiago Messi, Cesc, Villa | MALLORCA  Aouate Cendros, Victor, Ramis, Bigas Pina, Tejera Pereira, Nsue, Castro Hemed |
Cesc Fabregas is back in action, and is likely to start against a side who have struggled for form this season. Pedro is defintely out after injuring himself in the midweek defeat of Granada, while Gerard Pique is still recovering from a hamstring injury and is unlikely to be risked.
Alexis Sanchez remains sidelined with a longer-term hamstring problem, and Ibrahim Afellay is also out long-term with a cruciate injury.
Mallorca remain winless in their last three outings and have recently suffered a change of coach when Michael Laudrup was replaced in the dugout by former Athletic Bilbao boss Joaquin Caparros.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Barcelona's impeccable home record was brought to an end by Sevilla last weekend, who held the champions to a 0-0 draw.
- Their home record, however, remains 21 goals scored in five matches, with none against.
- Barcelona haven't conceded in their last seven matches; their last concession was versus Valencia in a 2-2 draw on September 21.
- Mallorca recently disposed of former Barcelona playmaker Michael Laudrup after a poor run of results. Joaquin Caparros is now in the dugout.
- The Islanders secured a surprising 1-1 draw at Camp Nou last season, with Emilio Nsue cancelling out Lionel Messi's curling effort.
Prediction
After a frustrating draw versus Sevilla and a workmanlike display against Granada, the onus is on the champions to turn on the style once again, and they are likely to do so against a Sporting side completely devoid of confidence.
Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Mallorca 
