Abidal blow for Barcelona

FC Barcelona will be without defender Eric Abidal for the crucial UEFA Champions League Group F home encounter with FC Internazionale Milano next Tuesday after the 30-year-old suffered a thigh injury on international duty with France.

Important games
After completing 90 minutes of his country's 1-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off win in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, Abidal complained of discomfort in his left leg with subsequent tests revealing the player had damaged thigh tendons. The news will come as a blow to Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola who is preparing his side for games against Athletic Club Bilbao at the weekend, Internazionale on Tuesday, and Real Madrid CF five days later. Barça are third in Group F, a point adrift of leaders Inter and behind second-placed FC Rubin Kazan on head-to-head record, meaning their title defence would end if they lost to the Italian champions and the Russian team beat FC Dynamo Kyiv in Kazan.