Banned Xavi to miss Villarreal game
Reuters - Sunday 20 March 2011, 00:17
MADRID - Barcelona playmaker Xavi
will miss the La Liga leaders' game at fourth-placed
Villarreal next month after earning a fifth yellow card in
Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Getafe and an automatic one-match
suspension.
The Spain international, who is a key component of Barca's
possession-based playing style, was cautioned for kicking the
ball away late in the game at the Nou Camp.
"He'll have a rest for the Villarreal match and have a clean
slate for the next games," coach Pep Guardiola said at a news
conference.
"They (the players) know how many cards they have," he
added. "I want them to forget it and play their natural game."
Champions Barca have 78 points from 29 matches, five ahead
of Real Madrid.