by injury problems

La Liga champions have been marred by injury problems to their star personnel after the culmination of the international break. Barcelona take on Racing Santander on Saturday, October 15 at Camp Nou.

Guardiola’s men are expected to take all the points on offer, however, history suggests otherwise following the international break. The Catalan team fails to produce their best form after the break, famously proclaimed as the FIFA virus.

Evidence of the FIFA virus could be seen by checking the all-conquering team’s performance after returning to club action. A clearly jaded Barcelona drew against Real Sociedad, as players returned from international duty in September.

The manager has considerable selection problems before the league encounter, as many first team regulars picked up knocks.

Xavi Hernandez is the biggest causality of the break. The experienced campaigner limped off in Spain’s final Euro 2012 qualifier against Scotland.

La Masia academy product will be rested for the domestic tie, and will be joined by Javier Mascherano.

The Argentine international twisted his ankle in Argentina's 1-0 defeat in Venezuela on Wednesday.

Absence of the duo has added to the injury woes of the Catalan club. Cesc Fabregas, Ibrahim Afellay and Alexis Sanchez are all ruled out of action, with the Dutch midfielder ruled out for six months.

However, there is good news for Guardiola, as he welcomes Andres Iniesta back to the first team fold after a month on the sidelines.

With a clutch of first team player’s missing league and European actions in the coming weeks, Barcelona can ill afford to lose any more players.