Pep ponders Clasico line-up

Pep Guardiola says he is some way off deciding his team for next week’s Clasico against Real Madrid, as Barcelona prepare to face Levante.

Reigning La Liga champions Barca host fourth-place Levante on Saturday, but a showdown away to league leaders Real on December 10 is looming large on the horizon.

Barca must also prepare for their Champions League group-stage match at home to BATE Borisov of Belarus on Tuesday.

And coach Guardiola says he will wait for the outcome of the next two fixtures before making any decisions on the line-up to tackle arch-rivals Real.

“Tomorrow after the game we will decide on the squad we want for the game against BATE Borisov,” Guardiola said.

“We will see after the game. I want to see them (the players) in tomorrow’s game first.”

“To see how it goes, see how the players look, how they have reacted. There are a lot of factors that will decide the squad.”

“Those players who are not selected, well they can rest on the days which are given as rest days and when they all return again to train only then will we decide on the squad for the game against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday.”

Levante enjoyed a seven-match winning run to surprisingly top the table earlier this season.

They have since fallen back to fourth place, behind traditional heavyweights Real, Barca and Valencia.

But Guardiola remains wary of a team he believes do not receive the credit their performances deserve.

“Sometimes we have the tendency to think that if players haven’t gone through Real Madrid or Barcelona, these two teams in particular, then they don’t really count,” he said.

“But I have a huge admiration for these (Levante) players, who have had long careers. These are players who have spent a lot of time playing football.”

“Levante has a strong group of players. They are very united and as a club organise themselves well.”

“They started the season well and are now in a comfortable position.”

“So if these players have been playing for so many years in the first division, then it’s because they have deserved that and they have the ability to play at that level.”

“And tomorrow we will try and compete well against them.”