Pep looks to squad for La Liga opener

Barcelona get their delayed start to La Liga underway on Monday, as they welcome Villarreal to the Camp Nou.

Coach Pep Guardiola already has a selection headache as the European Champions are without captain Carlos Puyol, Gerard Pique, Maxwell and Brazilian full-back Adriano all ruled out through injury.

Dani Alves also misses out after his sending off in the final match of last season.

“There are other alternatives,” Guardiola said.

“We halt on our sides and we are without three full backs but we have other alternatives to play. We can make some of our players play in different positions. That is what we can do with these players.

“They have shown they could do it in the pre-season and we will move on.”

Barcelona’s pre-season preparations have been typically faultless, defeating Porto to add the Super Cup title to their league and European double from last season.

They also defeated Real Madrid over two fiercely contested legs to win the Spanish Super Cup.

The two sides will no doubt be competing for the La Liga title again this season.

And, after seeing Jose Mourinho’s men beat Zaragoza 6-0 on Sunday, Guardiola knows Barca have a real challenge on their hands.

“I was not wrong last year when I said they (Real Madrid) wouldn’t lose too many points, and they won’t lose too many this year either,” Guardiola said.

“That is why we have to try and win as many games as possible. We know our rival, we have faced each other many, many times lately, we know their power.”

“They are big and they are going to win many games.”

New Barcelona signing Cesc Fabregas could make his league debut against Villarreal on Monday.

Fabregas scored his first goal in Barca’s 2-0 victory over Porto on Friday.