Predicting Barcelona's First Choice Starting 11 for the 2012-13 Season

With Pep Guardiola gone and Tito Vilanova in, all eyes will be on FC Barcelona in 2012-13 for a number of reasons.

Not only has the manager changed, but with the exit of Guardiola, the all-out-attack line-ups, which regularly saw Barcelona start with perhaps one natural defender and multiple midfielders capable of filling in defensive duties off the ball, may go, too.

The 3-3-4 systems—if the fluidity of these players could be nailed down to numerical positions—might have disappeared, at least for now as Tito starts to make his own stamp on the squad.

Of course, the passing approach, patient build-up and dominating of matches will continue, but there might well be one or two changes in a "first choice" starting 11, especially with some new arrivals still expected.

Here is the prediction of Barcelona's first choice starting team for the beginning of the season.

With little in the way of competition, Victor Valdes is really the only candidate to continue in goal for Barcelona.

The stopper was part of the successful Spain Euro 2012 squad and has been lauded for being the starting point of many attacks, with his calm demeanour on the ball and simple approach to passing.

Shot-stopping is fine, but Valdes is too often caught out with low crosses and shots inside his near post.

Perhaps somewhat fortunately, he is rarely troubled behind the Barcelona defence and his confidence carries him past any mistakes.

Brazilian attacking wing-back Dani Alves will continue at right-back for Barcelona, and here is the first part of the prediction: the team will revert more often to a 4-3-3 in the initial stages of Vilanova's tenancy.

This is a formation all the players are comfortable with, all have their own positions and know each others' roles.

What comes later may be more complex, more fluid or more attacking, but 4-3-3 is the great base of the best Barcelona teams and Vilanova will start from here.

For Alves, another season of attacking that right flank at every opportunity beckons.

The latest member of the all-conquering Spanish squad to join up with Barcelona, Jordi Alba showed huge promise for Valencia before delivering on it in spectacular fashion at Euro 2012.

Capable of playing both in defence and in a more advanced role, Alba will operate from left-back for Barcelona and provide the thrust and penetration from deep that a succession of players have been unable to do as well as Alves can on the opposite side.

Alba is a real talent and could go on to be the best attacking left-back in La Liga next season, perhaps even throughout Europe.

Having re-established himself as a key part of the Barcelona team after an inauspicious start, Javier Mascherano is now a top class centre-back having joined the team from Liverpool as a defensive midfielder.

Tenacious in the tackle, great acceleration and naturally reserved in positioning, the Argentine is the perfect foil for the more adventurous, passing-and-dribbling based game of his partner, Gerard Pique.

With Carles Puyol sitting out of the European Championships with an injury, he will be keen to prove his fitness.

But in terms of regular playing time and especially in the big games, Puyol may now have to accept that the team has moved on somewhat without him.

Not every neutrals cup of tea, but Sergio Busquets is an integral cog in the clockwork mechanism of Barcelona's well-oiled machine.

Or to break the drawn out metaphor, something similar which alludes to him being very important to Barcelona.

He keeps the play simple, passes short to his teammates and breaks forward unexpectedly. He is also a danger in the air from set pieces, but he does the defensive work very well indeed.

Pressing, tackling, closing down and covering the more attack-minded defenders as they raid past him, Sergio gets the job done.

Two more key parts of Spain's Euro 2012 winning team.

Xavi Hernandez remains one of the finest players on the planet. As captain he will be one of the first names on Tito Vilanova's team sheet as often as possible.

As he starts to creep towards his mid-30's—Xavi turns 33 in the new year—he will settle slightly farther back in midfield as the second player. The one to link the start of moves to the final third with quick passing and exemplary vision.

Alongside him will be Cesc Fabregas, the more attack-minded, forward-thinking midfielder who will look to break into the penalty box as often as possible.

He has the chance to cement himself a regular starting spot for Barcelona.

Cesc is a good finisher, links play well in the final third and works hard in winning the ball back—this could really be a massive year for the former Arsenal player.

Pace, precision, skill, an eye for goal and creativity in abundance, this duo provide Barcelona with everything they need in attack.

There is competition for places.

David Villa will return from injury and Ibrahim Afellay—if he stays at the club—will be looking for more minutes on the pitch this season.

Pedro Rodriguez, Gerard Deulofeu and Cristian Tello amongst others will also be looking to get plenty of starts.

However, Iniesta showed with Spain that his link-up play and understanding with Jordi Alba down the left is an impressive sight to behold.

He will still retain his ability to drift infield and create a plethora of chances for himself and others.

Alexis perhaps still has something to prove after an up and down campaign last year, but has the ability to be a match-winner. His pace and directness can help open up defences—this will be a key season for him.

Nothing more needs be said about Leo Messi.

Hhis numbers speak for themselves and the attacker would be an automatic pick in any side in the world, bar none.

His sleight of foot, appreciation of space, acceleration, finishing ability and close control mark him out as the premiere modern day attacker.

His consistency and levels of fitness were nothing short of incredible last season as he sent goalscoring records tumbling.

Playing as the archetypal false nine, Messi gets license to roam where he will and cause havoc and chaos for opposition defences.

If Messi is firing on all cylinders again, then Tito has one massive plus point going for him already.

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