(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.

1. What injury was talked about?
2. What rivals were there?
3. When did they play?
4. Who won?
5. Who injured their leg?
6. When?
7. What was called off?
8. Who is a top scorer?
9. What was he allowed to do?
10. Why?
11. Who was not allowed to play?
12. For what?
13. who returns from training?
1. a groin injury
2. Barca and Espanyol
3. on December 18.
4. Barca
5. Milito
6. on November 10
7. Spanish league strike
8. Messi
9. to miss Sunday's home clash
10. to extend his holiday,
11. Pique is suspended
12. for picking up his fifth yellow card
13. Gabriel Milito and Jeffren Suarez