No relaxation in Barça camp

Jordi Clos

Barça make their debut in the Spanish Cup tonight (22 h, R@dio Barça) at Segunda B team Ceuta. Although their opponents may look the weaker team on paper. Guardiola has warned his squad –which includes six B team players- against any overconfidence.

The Spanish teams involved in European competition all join in the Spanish Cup this week and they are all drawn against Segona B clubs. Barça will be up against Ceuta in a game which demands maximum concentration if any slip ups are to be avoided.

Six B team players
With such a packed fixture list, Guardiola has taken the opportunity to leave a number of his first choice players at home and along with the injured Xavi and Milito, Valdés, Alves, Piqué, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi and Villa - some of the players who have had the most punishing schedules, do not make the trip.

Six Barça B youngsters cover the absences - Miño, Fontàs, Bartra, Dos Santos, Thiago and Nolito – and face an unusual trip, flying to Malaga and taking a helicopter from there to North Africa.

Always a tricky tie
According to Pep Guardiola, “it’s the perfect game for the type of player I’m taking”. The boss knows just how potentially tricky these ties can be and has demanded maximum focus from his players. Guardiola was actually a `player the last time the team visited Ceuta in the 2000/01 season when Barça ran out 0-3 winners, but were given a very good run for their money by the competitive Ceuta side.

‘The night of the stars”

Ceuta are currently enjoying some good form, with their weekend win over Jaen(3-1) leaving them in seventh spot, a point outside the play off places. Their main threat and biggest star is Javi Navarro.

Barça’s visit is being called “the night of the stars” in Ceuta and there is a great atmosphere of excitement at the visit of the current League champions. Home team manager Joao de Deus is looking to his team “to give a good account of themselves” in their big stage debut.