Spanish sides lose important pair
Monday, March 8, 2004
Article summary
Pablo Aimar and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will miss Valencia CF and FC Barcelona's UEFA Cup ties this week.
Article body
Aimar out
Valencia lost playmaker Pablo Aimar to a hamstring problem just 30 minutes into their 3-0 victory over RC Deportivo La Coruña. The Argentinian has a small tear to his left hamstring and will be sidelined for two to three weeks, ruling him out of the first leg away to Gençlerbirligi SK.
Knee ligament
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be missing left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst when they visit Celtic FC on Thursday after he sustained a knee ligament injury in their 3-2 win against RCD Mallorca. The Dutchman was substituted in the 64th minute after suffering a sprain to the internal cruciate ligament in his left knee. Club doctors have estimated a two-week lay-off for Van Bronckhorst.