In form Barça face German testRoger Bogunyà

In form Barça face German test

After three excellent performances in the Spanish League, Barça travel to Stuttgart in the hope that they can carry their good form over into Europe.
FC Barcelona go to Stuttgart on the back of four straight wins against Lyon, Sevilla, Zaragoza and Levante. Having won 3-0 in their opening game against the French champions, Rijkaard’s side now face their first away test in their Champions League group. After 6 from 6 Barça are currently top of the group, and now face the German champions, who lost in their first game at Glasgow Rangers (2-1).

The Scottish side came from behind to delight the Ibrox crowd by taking three crucial points. Ronaldinho at the ready Barça are able to celebrate the occasion by welcoming back Ronaldinho, who is now fully recovered from his leg injury and has been given the all-clear to play tonight. Mexican Márquez is also back after missing the Levante game with an injured Achilles tendon. Missing Touré Yaya But it’s not all good news. Touré Yaya was injured on Saturday and joins Zambrotta, Eto'o and Edmílson in the treatment room. This will be the first game this season that Barça have started without the Ivorian, who will probably find his place in front of the defence taken by Márquez. Main man Mario Gómez One of the Mexican’s main tasks will be to stop Stuttgart’s main striker, Mario Gómez.

The player, who has an Andalusian mother and German father, is the top scorer in the German side this season with four goals. But these have not served to lift Stuttgart to the kind of start they would have liked to their Bundesliga season. The side managed by Armin Veh are currently on 10 points, just half the total that leaders Bayern Munich have collected.