Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid because of a calf strain.
Skipper Carles Puyol is fit after a muscle strain and fellow defender Gabriel Milito also plays but but full-back Maxwell (groin) misses out.
Real also have defensive issues, with centre-back Ricardo Carvalho suspended.
Injured midfielder Sami Khedira is set to be replaced by Lassana Diarra for the third El Clasico in 12 days.
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola confirmed the absence of the influential Iniesta at a news conference on Tuesday, saying: “He can’t play, 100%. We hope to have him back for the second leg.”
Iniesta could be replaced by Thiago Alcantara, who has impressed in several recent appearances for the first team, or Netherlands international Ibrahim Afellay.
Guardiola remains determined to go for the win in Madrid, saying: “If you come to this stadium looking to defend a result then they will roll over you.
“I can’t do that, I can’t change the way we play because of the injuries.”
Real have the momentum having beaten their great rivals 1-0 to win the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup, the Copa del Rey, last week.However, the return of Puyol, who missed the Cup final and Saturday’s 2-0 win over Osasuna, is a big boost, although Barca could still be forced to use defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano in defence.(BBC SPORT)
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