In a political volume, Oleguer pontificates over childhood anorexia, the global anti-fascist struggle and the involvement of a previous Spanish government in the Gulf War. Savaged by the Madrid press who have labelled him a hypocrite for being prepared to play for Spain despite his desire for Catalan independence, the book has been acclaimed by Catalan academics. Oleguer may not get the star billing or the salary of Barca's leading attacking lights, but he's a cult figure among hardcore fans.

An economics graduate who missed training with Frank Rijkaard's permission to complete his finals, Oleguer's political persuasions tick the right boxes for those who see Barca befitting its ?more than a club' moniker. Yet Oleguer has been judged for his performances in the Barca shirt rather than his writing ability since he graduated from the reserves three years ago.

A speedy and incisive performer, Oleguer enjoyed a sound understanding with fellow Catalan and club captain Carlos Puyol in central defence. Neither were the most technically accomplished, but their concentration and commitment were never questioned. And if former manager Bobby Robson's "Catalonia is a country and FC Barcelona is their army, " assertion is true, then Oleguer and Puyol embody a soldier's spirit.

An occasionally held view is that Barca are so attackminded that their defence must be their weakness. The evidence is flimsy. Barca's defence conceded fewer goals than any other in Spain last season and it's the same this time, although coaches of Champions League semi-final opponents Milan will have noted that Rijkaard's team have conceded 15 league goals at home, one more than Athletic Bilbao in 13th place. Eight other teams have conceded fewer or the same goals as Barca on home ground.

These statistics haven't knocked Barca from their favourites perch, but a Milan team capable of dominating home and away will recognise that there are goals to be had in the Nou Camp.

Milan will know too that Barca's defence has improved considerably in the last year.

Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2005, the Catalans conceded two goals from moves which started when full-backs Juliano Belletti and Giovanni van Bronkhorst were in the Chelsea half.

Van Bronkhorst's career was resuscitated when he moved to the Nou Camp from Arsenal and he remains first choice left-back ahead of another former Highbury teammate, the Brazilian Sylvinho. Yet the more defensively-minded Oleguer is now preferred to attacking rightback Belletti. At Stamford Bridge in February, Barca's new-look defence was less readily exposed and in the return leg, it successfully stifled Chelsea's attack.

The warrior-like Puyol has matured into one of Europe's best defenders, his key interceptions and self-assured confidence key to Barca's spirit.

In Mexico captain Rafael Marquez who plays alongside him, Puyol has found a more technically astute foil who can spray passes with aplomb and boasts superb positioning. Marquez is likely to return for Wednesday's Milan clash after a month sidelined.

Victor Valdes, at 24, is still young for a top class goalkeeper. Three high-profile errors this season mean most observers consider Spain regulars Santiago Canizares and Iker Casillas to be better, if not braver, than the impulsive Catalan. Yet Valdes has great reflexes and is assured in one on-ones meaning his stock remains high. In front of the defence, Brazilians' Edmilson or Thiago Motta are usually favoured in the midfield holding role, although Spaniard Andres Iniesta was sublime in that position against Benfica last week, drawing praise from a watching Bobby Charlton. He didn't know his name, but Charlton opined: "The number 24 was magnificent, a really great player." And that's how Barca like it: let the attackers make the headlines as an ever improving defence quietly do their job.