It has been a tough week for FC Barcelona. A 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad last Saturday and a 2-2 draw against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. Both matches they dominated the first half but took their foot of the throttle in the second allowing both sides to get back into the match and pull out a draw in the closing minutes.

If the results were not frustrating enough in both matches the loss of important starting players in each surely was. In the Sociedad match Alexis Sánchez was lost for eight weeks with a thigh injury and in Tuesdays match Andres Iniesta was lost for four weeks with a hamstring tear.

So far this season soccer stats show the club continues to dominate possession and passing but have lacked when it comes to shots on goal.

On Saturday Pep Guardiola will look to get back to his winning ways as the club hosts Osasuna in week 4 of La Liga.

Once again Guardiola will be challenged to figure out what to do in defense. Still without the services of Gerard Pique, who will remain sidelined for an additional 10 days, and the failed experiment of playing Sergio Busquets at center back Pep will look to returning captain Carles Puyol to pull the backline together. Look for Mascherano to play next to Puyol in the middle with Alves and Abidal on the wings. In an attempt to add depth to an already thin defense Pep has called up Marc Muniesa from Barça B along with winger Cristian Lobato.

In the middle Sergio Busquets will likely return to his familiar position along with Xavi and Cesc Fabregas, who will get plenty of starting time with the injury to Andres Iniesta. Look also for Afellay to get some playing time on Saturday as he has fully recovered from injury and is able to fit in as an attacking midfielder or winger.

Up front there will likely be no surprises with Pedro, Villa and Messi.

For Osasuna they are coming into the match even with Barcelona at 4 points having drawn with Atletico Madrid and defeating Sporting Gijon last week. Coming off last season barely escaping relegation, the club will look to keep the momentum going and will likely employ a eight man defense in order to hold off Barcelona’s attack and look to take advantage on the counter. They are obvious underdogs but look to take advantage of Barcelona’s recent slip up to possibly escape the Camp Nou with a point.

The importance for Barcelona to have a good performance tomorrow cannot be understated. Even Xavi came out following the clubs performance against AC Milan stating the team had suffered from “bad luck” but that the Real Sociedad result was purely due to “dropping their intensity.”

With Real Madrid going up against Levante on Sunday Barcelona cannot afford to give up points as a four or five point difference early in the season could cost them heavily during the final weeks of La Liga.

All that being said I see the club coming out on Saturday with a chip on their shoulder and making easy work of Osasuna as they prepare for a midweek league clash against Valencia.