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Chelsea and Barca set for potato field showdown
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-21 11:01
Spain left back Asier Del Horno will be fit after injury but there is more
doubt over France defender William Gallas (hamstring) and midfield compatriot
Claude Makelele (knee).
"Gallas is injured, in the recovery process, and we will have to wait a bit
more. I think Makelele will be ready but I cannot say for final now," said
Mourinho.
ESSIEN SUSPENDED
Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is suspended for both games in the tie. UEFA
made their decision after watching a video of a tackle he made on Didi Hamann
during a group match against Liverpool in December.
Barcelona recovered from their recent hiccup with a 5-1 victory over Real
Betis at the Nou Camp on Saturday, World Player of the Year Ronaldinho giving a
virtuoso performance on his return.
The Brazilian, who missed Barca's consecutive league defeats against Atletico
Madrid and Valencia through suspension, made two and scored two in a rather
flattering win.
With last season's defeat by Chelsea in mind, Barca coach Frank Rijkaard may
decide to beef up his midfield with the presence of Mark van Bommel and Thiago
Motta in which case Argentine teenager Lionel Messi would start on the bench.
Brazilian international Edmilson and Mourinho's former protege at Porto,
Deco, are expected to complete the four-man midfield, while French winger
Ludovic Giuly is still nursing a muscle strain and has been left out of the
squad.
Probable teams:
Chelsea: 1-Petr Cech; 13-William Gallas (or 20-Paulo Ferreira) 6-Ricardo
Carvalho, 25-John Terry, 3-Asier Del Horno ; 22-Eidur Gudjohnsen, 8-Frank
Lampard, 4-Claude Makelele (or 14-Geremi); 16-Arjen Robben, 9-Hernan Crespo,
10-Joe Cole (or 11-Damien Duff)
Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2-Juliano Belletti (or 23-Oleguer), 5-Carles
Puyol, 4-Rafael Marquez, 16-Silvinho (or 12-Giovanni van Bronckhorst); 17-Mark
van Bommel, 3-Thiago Motta (or 30-Lionel Messi), 15-Edmilson, 20-Deco;
10-Ronaldinho, 9-Samuel Eto'o. Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
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