Injured Milito to miss Barcelona closers
Thursday, November 11, 2010
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Argentina defender Gabriel Milito will miss FC Barcelona's remaining UEFA Champions League Group D fixtures after being laid off for six weeks with a torn muscle in his right thigh.
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FC Barcelona have lost central defender Gabriel Milito for their final UEFA Champions League Group D encounters against Panathinaikos FC and FC Rubin Kazan after the 30-year-old tore a muscle in his right thigh.
The Argentinian international, who had recently recovered from a groin problem, picked up this latest knock in Barcelona's 5-1 Copa del Rey triumph against AD Ceuta and now faces up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Milito registered only his second goal in four injury-hit seasons at Barça in the round of 32 second-leg fixture on Wednesday, before being replaced by Éric Abidal towards the end of the first half.
Josep Guardiola's side hold a one-point lead over FC København at the top of the Group D standings. Victory at Panathinaikos on 24 November would confirm their place in the knockout stages.