Barça left in need

Luis Enrique has quite a headache to deal with running in to the last games of the season.

Jeremy Mathieu, the Barça manager's go-to sub both in the centre of defence and out on the left flank, will soon have his left knee operated on following a knock that he picked up during the France-Russia game. Although he may lose the plot once in a while out on the playing field, he is in fact the twelfth most active player in the team.

The first game that the Frenchman will miss is the all-important 'Clásico'. Bearing in mind the niggles that Jordi Alba can't seem to shake off in his ankle and the thousands of miles that Mascherano has recently travelled in order to play for his country, under normal circumstances, Mathieu would have a very good chance of being picked for the game.

He would be the logical choice, especially if we consider that his performances as of late have been outstanding: he scored with a blinding header in his team's 2-1 home victory last season and put in a good show in the 4-0 away drubbing that they gave Real last November. Alas, he is to go under the knife to get his meniscus bone sorted and will not be match fit for some time to come.

Neither will Luis Enrique be able to count on the services of Adriano, out with muscle strain. Alba is therefore the only left-back available for the job - but don't be too surprised if we see him rested in readiness for Champions League commitments. If he is, 'jack of all trades' Sergi Roberto could be tasked with taking up defending duties out on the left wing. With Mathieu unavailable, other options are Bartra and Vermaelen.