Sunday, 4th April 2010

Barcelona are sweating over the fitness of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the striker pulled a calf muscle in the warm up against Athletic Bilbao. The Swedish star is certain to miss the La Liga giants’ second leg of their Champions League tie against Arsenal, but concern is growing that he may be a doubt for the meeting with Real Madrid just a few days later.

Ibrahimovic is joined in his fitness race by defender Gerard Pique. Like Ibrahimovic, Pique is pulling out all the stops in an effort to be fit for El Clasico. The defender is suffering from a torn right abductor muscle and played no part in the 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

In another injury blow the midfielder Yaya Toure took a heavy blow to the ankle in the La Liga win, although the Ivory Coast man is expected to be fit to face Arsenal in midweek.

With El Clasico sure to go some way to deciding the destination of the Spanish title, the Camp Nou side will be desperate to have all their key men available.

 

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