Iniesta to miss Real Madrid opener
Reuters - Tuesday 26 April 2011, 19:13
MADRID - Barcelona midfielder Andres
Iniesta will miss Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first
leg against Real Madrid, coach Pep Guardiola said.
"Andreas Iniesta is out," Guardiola told reporters at a news
conference at Real's Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday.
"He won't be there. One hundred percent," he added. "Maybe
we will change formation."
Barca said in a statement on their website that the Spain international had a calf
strain and had only been able to train for 10 minutes away from
the rest of the team on Tuesday.
The creative Iniesta is typically deployed on the left side
and is an important component of Barca's fast-flowing, attacking
play.
Guardiola - already struggling with injuries to several
defenders - could replace him with reserve player Thiago
Alcantara, who has impressed on several recent appearances for
the first team, or Netherlands international Ibrahim Afellay.