BARCELONA and Atletico Madrid’s chances of silverware have taken a hit after they lost key players to injury in Tuesday’s Champions League clash, with Barca centre- back Gerard Pique damaging a hip and Atletico top scorer Diego Costa limping off with a hamstring strain.
Pique, whose Spain international teammate and goalkeeper Victor Valdes was ruled out for seven months this week after he tore knee ligaments, had to be replaced by Marc Bartra after only 12 minutes of the quarterfinal first leg at the Nou Camp when he landed awkwardly after jumping for the ball.
Barca said Pique had damaged his right hip and would be out for around four weeks, meaning he will miss next Wednesday’s second leg in Madrid, the King’s Cup final against Real Madrid on April 16 and several La Liga games.
He may also have to sit out the two-legged Champions League semifinal at the end of the month if Barca qualify.
Costa, who had scored seven goals in five appearances in this season’s Champions League before Tuesday, and has 25 in 30 La Liga outings, pulled up clutching the back of his right leg with half an hour gone and was replaced by Diego.
The game ended 1-1 after goals from Atletico’s Diego and Barca’s Neymar.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference Costa would need more tests to determine the extent of the injury and how long he would be out of action.
Raul Garcia, David Villa or Adrian were ready to stand in for the Spain international in the meantime, Simeone added.
Simeone’s Barca counterpart and Argentine compatriot Gerardo Martino was pleased with the way Bartra played after coming off the bench.
The 23-year-old Barca academy graduate, third in the pecking order behind Pique and Javier Mascherano, turned in an accomplished performance, although his task was made considerably easier when the combative Costa was forced off.
“In these situations the best thing is to be able to count on all the players in the squad,” Martino told a news conference. “Bartra did very well, he was very precise.
“I was not surprised. He is a centre-back with a lot of qualities. What I was surprised by was how quickly he adapted to the game almost without having warmed up.
“He did it with a lot of personality.” Both Martino and Simeone appeared content with the draw after an entertaining tussle which Barca increasingly dominated as the second half wore on.
It was the fourth stalemate between the Spanish rivals this term after they drew 1-1 and 0-0 in the two-legged, season-opening Spanish Super Cup and 0-0 in La Liga in January.
Spanish giants suffer injury setbacks
Pique, whose Spain international teammate and goalkeeper Victor Valdes was ruled out for seven months this week after he tore knee ligaments, had to be replaced by Marc Bartra after only 12 minutes of the quarterfinal first leg at the Nou Camp when he landed awkwardly after jumping for the ball.
Barca said Pique had damaged his right hip and would be out for around four weeks, meaning he will miss next Wednesday’s second leg in Madrid, the King’s Cup final against Real Madrid on April 16 and several La Liga games.
He may also have to sit out the two-legged Champions League semifinal at the end of the month if Barca qualify.
Costa, who had scored seven goals in five appearances in this season’s Champions League before Tuesday, and has 25 in 30 La Liga outings, pulled up clutching the back of his right leg with half an hour gone and was replaced by Diego.
The game ended 1-1 after goals from Atletico’s Diego and Barca’s Neymar.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference Costa would need more tests to determine the extent of the injury and how long he would be out of action.
Raul Garcia, David Villa or Adrian were ready to stand in for the Spain international in the meantime, Simeone added.
Simeone’s Barca counterpart and Argentine compatriot Gerardo Martino was pleased with the way Bartra played after coming off the bench.
The 23-year-old Barca academy graduate, third in the pecking order behind Pique and Javier Mascherano, turned in an accomplished performance, although his task was made considerably easier when the combative Costa was forced off.
“In these situations the best thing is to be able to count on all the players in the squad,” Martino told a news conference. “Bartra did very well, he was very precise.
“I was not surprised. He is a centre-back with a lot of qualities. What I was surprised by was how quickly he adapted to the game almost without having warmed up.
“He did it with a lot of personality.” Both Martino and Simeone appeared content with the draw after an entertaining tussle which Barca increasingly dominated as the second half wore on.
It was the fourth stalemate between the Spanish rivals this term after they drew 1-1 and 0-0 in the two-legged, season-opening Spanish Super Cup and 0-0 in La Liga in January.
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