Pep Guardiola believes the three games Barcelona play in the next 10 days could determine if they retain the title.

Barca thrashed German side VfB Stuttgart 4-0 on Wednesday night to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and were paired with Arsenal in yesterday's draw for the last eight.

That tie, a repeat of the 2006 final which Barca won under Frank Rijkaard, has left football purists purring and has captured the imagination of the Catalan public.

Guardiola believes the draw could hardly have been more difficult for his side and he said: "The players are conscious that its one of the hardest draws we could have got.

"Arsenal's team has been together for many years, they have maintained a style of play and if you are not on your game they can walk all over you in a tie like this."

But the Barca coach appears keen to concentrate on the league for now.

"I understand that people are excited about the (Champions League) final at the Bernabeu, but for the moment our objective is the league, he added.

Guardiola's side are currently in second place, level on points with leaders Real Madrid, but tomorrow's clash at struggling Zaragoza is the first of three league games in a week.

"We play a quarter of (what is left of) the league this week and we have two difficult away matches," Guardiola said.

After the trip to Zaragoza, Barcelona are at home to Osasuna in midweek before travelling to Mallorca next weekend.

Lionel Messi has been suffering with a dental abscess which kept him out of training this morning, but the Argentina forward has been named in the squad.

"Leo always has a big participation in everything, but we try to make everybody feel important in our functions," Guardiola continued.

The Barca coach dropped summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the first time on Wednesday night, but insists it was not a wake-up call for the Sweden striker.

"I just felt that (Thierry) Henry should play after his second half against Valencia," he explained.

Guardiola, who is missing both Xavi and Eric Abidal through injury, expects a tough game from a revitalised Zaragoza.

"They put a lot of men behind the ball and leave (Humberto) Suazo up front.

"Their morale is high, they are out of the danger zone and have been getting some good results - it will be a hard match."

Despite moving out of the relegation zone under new coach Jose Aurelio Gay, Zaragoza sit just three points clear of the bottom three with 12 games left.

But Gay believes they can do the unthinkable and beat Barcelona tomorrow.

Gay said: "It's the best Barcelona side I have ever seen in my life, but we can put up a fight and we can beat them.

"We have to steal possession, start quickly and be aggressive."

Gabi returns from suspension and is set to replace Abel Aguilar in midfield, but Zaragoza should be otherwise unchanged.