Previews: Marquez back for Barca
Reuters - Friday 11 September 2009, 14:03
MADRID - Brief news from La Liga ahead of
this weekend's matches:
Barcelona's Mexico defender Rafael Marquez has been passed
fit to return to action after four months out with a knee injury
picked up in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea
last season.
Marquez and Andres Iniesta, who has also returned from a
lengthy injury lay-off this week, could make the squad for
Barca's trip to Getafe on Saturday. Striker Bojan Krkic
is injured.
Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna has had a recurrence of
a muscle injury after playing for Spain against Estonia on
Wednesday and will be out of action for up to three weeks, the
club said. Villarreal host Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to find his feet at Real Madrid
but director general Jorge Valdano said he was unconcerned ahead
of the side's trip to face Espanyol on Saturday.
"Possibly he's feeling a little anxious because he's very
professional and always wants to be the best, but we'll have to
wait a few games to see the real him," Valdano told Spanish
state radio.
Sevilla host promoted Real Zaragoza on Saturday
with president Jose Maria del Nido having to back coach Manolo
Jimenez after their opening day defeat to Valencia.
"Jimenez will get the side back to winning ways and will end
the complaints from some fans over the style of play," he told
reporters. "All that matters is to win, then to win, and then to
win again."
Zaragoza will be without midfielder Angel Lafita, who is
still unable to play for the side after Deportivo Coruna refused
to release his registration papers due to a dispute over the
transfer fee.
"We'll have to wait until next week but everyone at Zaragoza
is sure that the player will be able to join up with the rest of
the squad from Wednesday," Zaragoza director general Gerhard
Poschner told Radio Zaragoza.
Atletico Madrid will be without injured midfielder Raul
Garcia for Racing Santander's visit on Saturday but
defender Antonio Lopez has recovered from a muscle strain and is
available.
Almeria travel to Sporting Gijon on Sunday without
Colombia midfielder Fabian Vargas who has had surgery on damaged
bone and ankle ligaments in his left leg, following an injury
picked up while on international duty.