FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.04.2010 12:37

Barça and Arsenal injury woes

Edgar Fornós

FC Barcelona and Arsenal have been preparing for the biggest game of their respective seasons with both knowing that they will kick off with a number of key players missing.

After the dramatic 2-2 draw last week in the Emirates the two clubs have played league matches before looking to their second encounter in Camp Nou on Tuesday evening. But there will be a number of stars unavailable as both the Blaugrana and the Gunners will not be able to call upon the services of several of their first-choice squad members.

Injury list

For the home team striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be unable to add to his two goals in London after he suffered an injury in the warm-up before Barça's match with Athletic Club de Bilbao on Saturday. Andrés Iniesta is still out of action, having already missing the first leg, while Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué are both suspended. Piqué would not be able to play anyway because he suffered a knock in the game against Athletic.

Defensive options

Pep Guardiola will have to shuffle his pack in order to cope with the absences of Piqué and Puyol in the centre of defence. Dmytro Chygrynskiy is ineligible to play in the Champions League. Gabriel Milito and Rafael Márquez are the first-choice replacements while Touré Yaya can also drop back from midfield to marshall the defence.

Trio out

Arsenal also have serious injury problems as they will not have Cesc Fàbregas, William Gallas or Andrei Arshavin in their ranks. All three suffered knocks in the game against Barça last week with the Catalan midfielder having been ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured leg. The other two are expected to play again this season. Robin van Persie is also still absent as he closes in on full fitness after months out of action.