q: What injury was talked about? a: a groin injury q: What rivals were there? a: Barca and Espanyol q: When did they play? a: on December 18. q: Who won? a: Barca q: Who injured their leg? a: Milito q: When? a: on November 10 q: What was called off? a: Spanish league strike q: Who is a top scorer? a: Messi q: What was he allowed to do? a: to miss Sunday's home clash q: Why? a: to extend his holiday, q: Who was not allowed to play? a: Pique is suspended q: For what? c: (CNN) -- Spanish champions Barcelona will kick off 2011 without the services of world player of the year Lionel Messi and key defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. 

Coach Pep Guardiola has given top scorer Messi permission to miss Sunday's home clash with Levante as his side seek to move five points clear of second-placed rivals Real Madrid in the La Liga standings. 

The club's website reported on Friday that the Argentina forward had been allowed to extend his holiday, so will be missing from the line-up for only the fourth time this season. 

Captain Puyol is ruled out with a groin injury that he picked up playing for Catalonia in the representative game against Honduras earlier this month, and may also miss next weekend's trip to Deportivo La Coruna. 

Spanish league strike called off 

His central defensive partner Pique is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card this season in Barca's final league game of 2010, the 5-1 thrashing of city rivals Espanyol on December 18. 

However, Guardiola will be able to call on Argentine defender Gabriel Milito and young midfielder Jeffren Suarez, who have both returned to training. 

Milito had been sidelined since injuring his thigh in the Spanish Cup win over Ceuta on November 10, while the 22-year-old Jeffren suffered a groin problem in the Champions League match win over Rubin Kazan on December 7. 

Football's best and worst of 2010 

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid will return to action on Monday with a trip to seventh-placed Getafe. 
for picking up his fifth yellow card