BARCELONA, SPAIN: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring his sides opening goal during the Champions League group F match between Barcelona and Dynamo Kiev at the Camp Nou Stadium.
Photograph by: Jasper Juinen
Credit: Getty Images

Between now and December 20 Barca will play four Spanish Liga matches, two Champions League clashes - and also compete in the Club World Championship.

"We have a very difficult month ahead of us," said coach Josep Guardiola on Wednesday, "without any time to rest or relax. We will have to concentrate really hard during this period, and make few mistakes."

As usual, national team matches have caused headaches for Guardiola. This time it was Eric Abidal rather than usual suspect Thierry Henry who injured himself playing for France.

Abidal will be out for at least two weeks after tearing a thigh muscle playing against Ireland on Saturday. This will open the door for reserve left-back Maxwell, who has hardly played since joining from Inter Milan in July.

Guardiola will be relieved that none of his charges picked up an injury in Spain's thrashing of Austria - and that star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic decided to sit out the Italy-Sweden friendly.

Bilbao, who are eighth, will be sweating on the fitness of teenage prodigy Iker Muniain.

Barca are just one point ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to lowly Racing Santander earlier on Saturday.

Racing, fourth from bottom, are still without a replacement for coach Juan Carlos Mandia, who was sacked 10 days ago. Former Real Madrid technical secretary Miguel Angel Portugal is expected to accept the job on Thursday.

Cristiano Ronaldo is almost over his controversial ankle injury, but will probably be held back until Wednesday's Champions League clash against FC Zurich.

Also on Saturday, third-placed Sevilla are away to Tenerife, whilst troubled Atletico Madrid are away to Deportivo Coruna.

Atletico are third from bottom and in a massive crisis. Diego Forlan will return from the Uruguay-Costa Rica World Cup play-off a tired man. In addition, new coach Quique Sanchez Flores will miss the game after being laid low by swine flu.

Another team hit by swine flu is Osasuna, who play hosts to fourth-placed Valencia on Sunday. Three Osasuna players have already been laid low by the virus, and the game could be postponed if more are hit.

Sunday's other games are as follows: Malaga-Zaragoza, Mallorca-Almeria, Espanyol-Getafe, Xerez-Sporting Gijon and Villarreal-Valladolid.