Iniesta back for Barca’s Cup clash against Levante
29 Jan 2014 5:39 AM IST
Playmaker Iniesta was sidelined for a couple of weeks with a bruised knee while centre back Puyol hurt his left leg in last week’s 4-1 first-leg triumph.
Midfielder Song and full back Montoya had calf and Achilles problems respectively and all four missed Sunday’s 3-0 La Liga win at home to Malaga.
With the record King’s Cup winners holding a comfortable lead, Barca coach Gerardo Martino has rested regulars Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves for the game at the Nou Camp, the club said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es). Barca are on course to meet La Liga rivals Real Sociedad or third tier Racing Santander in the last four.
Sociedad have a 3-1 lead ahead of Thursday’s return leg at their Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian but the Santander players have threatened to boycott the match in protest over unpaid wages and have demanded the cash-strapped club’s president and board step down.On the other side of the draw, holders Atletico Madrid lead Athletic Bilbao 1-0 before their trip to the Basque Country on Wednesday.
Lazio look to see off Napoli and set up derby treble
ROME: Lazio take on Napoli in the last Italian Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, knowing that victory will bring an extra special reward - three derby matches against arch-rivals AS Roma in the space of a week.
The two Roman clubs, who share the tenancy of the Olympic Stadium, are already scheduled to meet in the league on February 9, while a semi-final clash over two legs would take place on February 5 and 12.
However, before the Lazio faithful can savour that prospect, there is the not inconsiderable matter of seeing off the threat of high-flying Napoli.
Rafa Benitez’s men have slipped off the pace at the top of Serie A and are now third, 12 points adrift of leaders Juventus, so the Cup would seem to offer their best hope of a trophy this season. And, in addition to the prize of a semi-final place, there are a couple of old scores to settle along the way. Wednesday’s clash is also a match-up between the last two winners of the Cup.
Midfielder Song and full back Montoya had calf and Achilles problems respectively and all four missed Sunday’s 3-0 La Liga win at home to Malaga.
With the record King’s Cup winners holding a comfortable lead, Barca coach Gerardo Martino has rested regulars Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves for the game at the Nou Camp, the club said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es). Barca are on course to meet La Liga rivals Real Sociedad or third tier Racing Santander in the last four.
Sociedad have a 3-1 lead ahead of Thursday’s return leg at their Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian but the Santander players have threatened to boycott the match in protest over unpaid wages and have demanded the cash-strapped club’s president and board step down.On the other side of the draw, holders Atletico Madrid lead Athletic Bilbao 1-0 before their trip to the Basque Country on Wednesday.
Lazio look to see off Napoli and set up derby treble
ROME: Lazio take on Napoli in the last Italian Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, knowing that victory will bring an extra special reward - three derby matches against arch-rivals AS Roma in the space of a week.
The two Roman clubs, who share the tenancy of the Olympic Stadium, are already scheduled to meet in the league on February 9, while a semi-final clash over two legs would take place on February 5 and 12.
However, before the Lazio faithful can savour that prospect, there is the not inconsiderable matter of seeing off the threat of high-flying Napoli.
Rafa Benitez’s men have slipped off the pace at the top of Serie A and are now third, 12 points adrift of leaders Juventus, so the Cup would seem to offer their best hope of a trophy this season. And, in addition to the prize of a semi-final place, there are a couple of old scores to settle along the way. Wednesday’s clash is also a match-up between the last two winners of the Cup.
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