Injuries tear into Getafe plans
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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Mario and Pablo Hernández are major doubts for Getafe CF's quarter-final decider against FC Bayern München after tests showed the pair have muscle tears.
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'Wait and see'
Both players limped out of Getafe's goalless draw at FC Barcelona on Sunday – midfielder Pablo Hernández lasted 36 minutes before being forced off with a calf problem, to be followed three minutes later by defender Mario, clutching his thigh. The Madrid side's medical staff say they will "wait and see how they progress" but neither is likely to feature against Bayern at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, adding to coach Michael Laudrup's worries. Cata Díaz is out with a knee knock and Esteban Granero is suspended, although Lucas Licht and captain Belenguer are available again.
Contra contract
The absentees could mean a start for right-back Cosmin Contra, Getafe's goalscoring hero of the 1-1 draw in Germany last week. The Romanian international, 32, is determined to build on that first-leg display, saying: "Bayern may be favourites but we will try to play like we did in the second half in Munich and not be scared." And with a capacity home crowd expected of around 13,000, Contra, who recently signed a one-year contract extension, wants to put on a show. "We're going to fight for all the people at the ground and for all the Spanish people supporting Getafe on Thursday."