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Barcelona troubled by injuries ahead of visit to Stuttgart

Hamburg- Former Champions League winners Barcelona travel to Stuttgart on Tuesday for a crucial Group E Champions League match without several key players, all of whom are suffering from torn or pulled muscles.



 Striker Samuel Eto'o is still not fit. Right-back Gianluca Zambrotta is out for a month, the same as midfielder Yaya Toure.

 Toure tore the femoral biceps muscle in his left leg right at the end of Saturday's 4-1 win away to Levante, and will be out for around four weeks.

 Defenders Eric Abidal and Rafa Marquez will make the trip to Stuttgart but both are doubtful.

 On Sunday Barca coach Frank Rijkaard celebrated his 45th birthday.

 "The only thing that has put a shadow over my birthday," he told the digital version of Sport, "has been these injuries."

   The good news for Rijkaard is that team captains Carles Puyol and Ronaldinho are both fit again.

 Stuttgart's Mario Gomez, who admitted that playing against Barcelona was a boyhood dream, said that they did not fear the La Liga side.

 "We can compete with any team at his level and will certainly not go into the game not believing in our chances," he said.

 The other game in the group sees Rangers away to Olympique Lyon.

 The other Spanish team in action on Tuesday, Sevilla, will also miss some players for their game at home to Slavia Prague In Group H. Veteran captain Javi Navarro is still not fit, the same as Julien Escude and Enzo Maresca.

 Without Navarro and Escude at the back, Sevilla have leaked goals alarmingly. Saturday's 2-0 defeat in Zaragoza was their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.

 Also in the same group Arsenal travel to Steaua Bucharest with a question mark hanging over forward Eduardo, who is a doubt with a groin injury, while midfielder Tomas Rosicky is definitely out with a hamstring problem.

 Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is still suffering from his damaged elbow, and defender William Gallas is 10 days from returning from his groin problem.

 Manchester United will also be without their goalkeeper at home to Roma in a Group F game. Dutchman Edwin van der Sar will miss the game against the Serie A side having damaged a toe in Saturday's 1-0 win over Birmingham, handing a start to Tomasz Kuszczak.

 That aside, the injury news is positive for United.

 Although full-back Mikael Silvestre is out for the season, Owen Hargreaves is back and in contention, Gary Neville is edging towards a return and Wayne Rooney has shown no ill-effects after his comeback following another broken metatarsal.

 Roma's main goal meanwhile, is to forget the 7-1 hammering suffered at the Old Trafford against the Red Devils last April.

 Captain Francesco Totti expects his side to bounce back after the weekend's 4-1 home defeat to Inter Milan and two draws in the Serie A.

 "Our game always gives us confidence, therefore I am optimistic about (our game in) Manchester," Totti said.

 Missing from Luciano Spalletti's lineup is defender Christian Panucci, while recovering midfielder Alberto Aquilani could come on if needed.

 Dynamo Kiev take on Sporting Lisbon in the other group game.

 In Group G Nicolas Burdisso, Duoglas Maicon and Ramiro Cordoba are still suspended for Inter Milan as they welcome PSV Eindhoven after a 1-0 defeat at Fenerbahce.

 Christian Chivu is back in defence from a shoulder injury while Marco Materazzi and midfielder Patrick Vieira are still sidelined.

 Argentinian Hernan Crespo is the likely striking mate of the in-form Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 "We are fully convinced we are the strongest," Crespo said, "but now we must improve in the Champions League, go one grade higher to tackle these games in a different way and qualify as first team in our group."

   Also in Group G, Fenerbahce are looking to continue their fine form as they travel to Russia for a game against CSKA Moscow.

DPA


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