Barcelona's Adriano ruled out of semi-final
Thursday, April 21, 2011
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FC Barcelona will be without Adriano for their UEFA Champions League semi-final double-header against Real Madrid CF after the defender tore a thigh muscle in the Copa del Rey final.
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FC Barcelona defender Adriano will miss both legs of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid CF after suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday's Copa del Rey final.
Full-back cum winger Adriano, who has made six UEFA Champions League and 13 Liga appearances this season, has been sidelined for four weeks after scans revealed the severity of a hamstring tear sustained in the 118th minute of the 1-0 Mestalla defeat by Madrid.
The 26-year-old Brazilian international will also sit out Barcelona's six remaining Liga matches, leaving coach Josep Guardiola with mounting injury problems. However, should Barça – who face Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on 27 April before hosting the return leg on 3 May – win their semi-final, former Sevilla FC player Adriano could be fit in time for the Wembley final on 28 May.
Guardiola's absentee list also shows left-back Eric Abidal (liver tumour) and forward Bojan Krkić (knee ligaments) out until the summer while captain Carles Puyol is struggling with a persistent muscle strain.
