Anxious wait for Valencia's Baraja
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Article summary
Midfielder Rubén Baraja faces a race against time to be fit for Valencia CF's first-leg tie against FC Internazionale Milano after damaging a thigh muscle.
Article body
Extensive tests
After extensive medical tests, the 31-year-old has been told it will take two to three weeks to recover from the injury sustained during Valencia's 2-1 Primera División defeat at Real Betis Balompié on Sunday. He is therefore in danger of missing the first leg of the Inter encounter, in Milan on 21 February.
Ill-fated campaign
Baraja has had bad luck with injuries this season, sitting out almost three months of his seventh Mestalla campaign after damaging his right calf - a complaint which also affected his achilles tendon - on 21 August. He has played nine Primera División games for fourth-placed Valencia this term and once in the UEFA Champions League.
