Injured Benzema doubtful for Real
Reuters - Friday 30 September 2011, 12:41
MADRID - Brief news from La Liga ahead of
this weekend's matches:
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has damaged a muscle in
his left leg, the club said on their website
on Friday.
There was no hint of how long Benzema, who has been included
in France's squad for next month's Euro 2012 qualifiers, might
be sidelined but he is unlikely to feature at Espanyol on Sunday.
Real are fifth in the table with 10 points from five games.
Barcelona were given a boost ahead of Sunday's game at
struggling Sporting Gijon when midfielder Andres Iniesta
was able to train with his team-mates on Friday for the first
time since tearing a leg muscle two weeks ago.
Iniesta is unlikely to be fit for Sunday while captain
Carles Puyol trained apart from the rest of the squad after
picking up a knock in Wednesday's 5-0 Champions League win at
BATE Borisov.
Barca are second on 11 points having drawn their last two
away games at Real Sociedad and Valencia respectively. Promoted
Real Betis, who host Levante on Sunday, are the surprise
leaders with 12 points.
Barca ground out a 1-0 win at Gijon's Molinon stadium two
years ago and were held to a 1-1 draw there last season and
full-back Adriano has warned his team-mates against taking
Sunday's game lightly.
"Last year we suffered and two years ago we had to make a
big effort to win," the Brazilian said at a news conference on
Friday.
Barca are an even better team than the one that won a
Spanish league and Champions League double last season following
the purchase of midfielder Cesc Fabregas and forward Alexis
Sanchez, according to Gijon coach Manuel Preciado.
"The stars will have to be aligned for us to win," he told a
news conference on Friday. "We'll have to do everything right
and [Lionel] Messi and company will have to have an off-day."
Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo has a muscle problem and is
doubtful for the fourth-placed team's visit to Atletico Madrid
on Sunday.
"If Alvaro can play so much the better," coach Marcelino
told a news conference on Friday. "If not, with the players we
have available we have sufficient potential to beat Atletico."
There is a lot at stake for Atletico when they host
Sevilla, as the Andalusian club has similar objectives for the
season, according to the Madrid side's centre-back Alvaro
Dominguez.
"We are treating the Sevilla game as a sort of mini final
because we want to be up there [in the table] and Sevilla is a
team that has the same goals as us," the Spain Under-21
international said at a news conference.
Athletic Bilbao are still looking for their first win
since the arrival of new coach Marcelo Bielsa and are second
from bottom ahead of their game at Basque rivals Real Sociedad
on Sunday.
However, Thursday's 2-0 Europa League victory at home to
Paris Saint-Germain should give the team a lift, according to
midfielder Igor Gabilondo.
"It was important to play a good match... for the team and
the fans," Gabilondo told reporters. "The team came into the
match playing well and improving but we were just lacking a good
result."