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Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has dismissed suggestions that the team are buckling under the strain of so many demanding matches following a glut of injuries recently, insisting they are no worse off than title challengers Real Madrid.
Xavi will be missing along with Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes for the trip to Real Mallorca while Leo Messi had a knock but has been given the green light to play. With Dani Alves also suspended it means that coach Pep Guardiola will have to make several changes. The injuries have come during a key part of the season with the club having reached the final of the King’s Cup as well as competing in the domestic league and the Champions League. While they have continued to show their eye-catching football in spells in recent matches they have not been as consistent as earlier in the campaign. They were lucky to draw with Sporting Gijon ahead of their Champions League tie with Arsenal, which they lost 2-1 in London, and then last weekend they scraped home a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao. – AFP.
Online Reporter