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Iniesta injured as Barcelona qualify for last 16
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-05 11:35 MADRID-- Barcelona paid a heavy price as they qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw against Swiss side Basel on Tuesday night.
The draw means Barcelona are mathematically assured of a place in the knockout stage of the competition, but the team lost midfielder Andres Iniesta with a thigh injury in the process. Iniesta put his hand down to his thigh and asked to be taken off in the 68th minute of the game in the Camp Nou Stadium. He was replaced by Samuel Eto'o. The first indications are that Iniesta has torn a muscle and he will be out of action for between four weeks and two months. The Spain international left the pitch just five minutes after Leo Messi had given Barcelona the lead in a game that turned out to be far tougher than the Catalan side had expected. Barcelona won 5-0 in Switzerland two weeks ago and most fans were expecting to see feast of goals in the Camp Nou. However, as Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola had warned, Basel dug deep to save their pride. Although the home side had most of the ball, they were unable to break down a defense that was well organized and which knew what to expect. It was not until 18 minutes after the break that Messi broke the deadlock. The little Argentinean received a pass from Thierry Henry on the edge of the area and fired into the back of the net. However, Messi's goal didn't open the floodgates and the Camp Nou supporters were stunned eight minutes from time when Erin Derdiyok levelled the scores for Basel. He received a pass from Carlitos inside the Barca area and made it 1-1. All of the remaining pressure was from Barcelona, but it was the Swiss side who ended the game happier, while Barcelona are left to contemplate the loss of a key player. |
