Medical: Xavi to miss Valencia clash
Influential Barcelona midfielder Xavi will not be available for Saturday’s clash at the Camp Nou with league leaders Valencia, as he continues to recuperate from problems with his Achilles tendon.
Medical specialist Dr. Cugat, speaking with Antena 3, has revealed that the midfielder is still not quite yet back to match fitness: “…One side does not have any pain, but the other still has a little bit…it is still too early for him to play.” It is expected, however, that Xavi will recover in time to face FC Copenhagen in next week’s Champions League match. This would be an excellent boost in the midfield for what could turn out to be a pivotal match for control of the group.
Xavi, who has not featured for the Catalans since September, has been nursing long-term discomfort in his Achilles tendon, stemming from little rest over the last several seasons. Grueling work throughout the La Liga campaign, Champions League, Copa Del Rey, and most recently a successful World Cup campaign with Spain, has seen the midfielder given very little rest as of late. One can only hope that this rest so early in the season will give his body time to repair, and return in top-shape for what has turned into an exciting battle for La Liga.
The man needs his well deserved rest.
still too early for him to play, he needs time to recover:) We need him in best condtion and that needs some time. Get well Xavi!
Time for the rest to be stand up and be counted…
Barca will struggle a bit without Xavi but Baca must rest Xavi at all cost. The season is too early to be risking Xavi or any other player for that matter.
Guardiola will have a handfull trying to provide Barca with a tactical fluent offense. The last thing I wanna see is Guardiola fielding Mascherano, Busquets and/or Keita accompanied by Iniesta unless Guardiola is planning a 4-4-2 formation… Which I might add Guardiola should try a new formation once in a blue moon not to be so predicatable.
Valencia are in good form and if Barca aren't carefull a loss might be in the table plus the fact that Barca always get a negative result after international break is another worry.
Guardiola should allow Thiago or Dos Santos to prove worthy of first team experience to allow Xavi the much needed rest wthout bringing the midfield mastermind in a hurry.
My predicted eleven: 4-3-3 Valdes – Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal – Thiago, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Villa, Pedro… or… 4-4-2 Valdes – Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal – Thiago, Mascherano, Busquets,Iniesta – Messi, Villa
Get well Xavi, we will need later on the season. We are really going to need a miracle to defeat Valencia this weekend especially if we play them like we had all our home games. Time for La Cantera to step up.
I reeally think we need him for Valencia, more than for Copenhague… but if he's not ok, it's better to rest i guess.
time for thiago to get a chance.
I really hope Thiago gets a chance to feature, with Xavi not in the midfield, we need someone that can orchestrate the games for us and the only people who can fill that void at the moment would be JDS or Thiago
Thiago has the potential to replace Xavi and he is a consistent player too.
Get Well Soon!!:S
Pedro,Xavi Out of Valencia Clash!!
Milito didn't train today, he might not be available also:S
Best Line-up:
Valdes
Alves-Pique-Puyol-Maxwell
Iniesta-Busquets-Kieta
Messi-Villa-Bojan
Bench: Pinto-Abidal-Adriano-Mascherano-Thiago-Jeffren-Nolito
Pedro is injured!:S he will be Out for 3 matches Against: Valencia, Copenhagen and Zaragoza!!
2nd Half: Thiago and Nolito In for Kieta and Bojan!!
yes.it's good,atleast he will be fresh.
I think xavi should be rested against zaragoza also coz he has been playing non-stop football
we already have a miracle, and its called "MESSI" !!
Yea true but sometimes the greatest need help to achieve greatness.
Busquets and Iniesta as CMs. Mascherano as DM.
Abidal is certainly not going to be benched. We need all the height we can get, and he is far better than Maxwell anyway.
we need him for the rest of the season so have your rest. this team must prove they can win without him.
hopefully!!!! i really want to see nolito again. he impressed me so much within just a few minutes. he is special.
Still we have a much better team on paper than Valencia and should win – no excuses! I want to see Masch and Thiago starting
That's the spirit boy!!
get well soon xavi