Champions League contenders weekend review ...
BARCELONA:Samuel Eto'o gave Spanish Primera Division leaders Barcelona a 1-0 win at Real Valladolid but Gonzalo Higuain kept Real Madrid in touch in second place as the champions beat Malaga 1-0 away on Saturday.
Barca have 72 points with nine games left to play, and remain six ahead of Real as they prepare to take on Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
Coach Pep Guardiola only used Lionel Messi and Daniel Alves as substitutes with one eye on Wednesday’s clash. Veteran Barcelona defender Carles Puyol made his return from injury in Saturday’s game.
BAYERN MUNICH:German champions Bayern were hit with the news that midfielder Franck Ribery was declared doubtful for the game at Camp Nou. The Frenchman, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona recently, has a foot injury.
Ribery is not the only Bayern player who is in danger of missing the clash; full-back Philip Lahm is carrying a calf-muscle injury, while central defensive pairing Lucio and Daniel van Buyten are also likely to be unavailable.
Lucio had to be replaced in the German side’s shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of Wolfsburg on Saturday with a muscle strain, while Van Buyten has been granted compassionate leave following personal problems.
Saturday’s result sees Bayern drop to fourth place on 48 points, three off the top with eight matches remaining.
VILLARREAL:Villarreal, who are fourth in the Spanish league, could not cope with Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo as he inspired his side to a 3-0 home win.
The former Real Madrid youth team player netted his 17th of the league campaign after seven minutes and set up Pablo Piatti and Mane for two more before half-time and winger Robert Pires was dismissed on the hour for a second yellow card.
It was not the preparation Villarreal would have wanted as the prepare to host Arsenal in the Champions League tomorrow.
They also lost their other winger Santi Cazorla to a serious leg injury that has put the Spanish international out for the rest of the season.
FC PORTO:There was better news for Portuguese champions FC Porto as their midfielder Freddy Guarin has returned to full fitness and has been included in Jesualdo Ferreira's squad that will travel to face Manchester United tomorrow.
The Colombia international has fully recovered from an ankle sprain and will be available for the United game, as will Lisandro Lopez who was suspended for Saturday’s 3-1 league victory at Guimaraes.
Porto captain Pedro Emanuel and Nelson Benitez are both still sidelined with injury, as is Jorge Fucile, while teenager Rabiola has been left out of the squad.
PORTO SQUAD (v Manchester United):Helton, Nuno; Alves, Cissokho, Rolando, Sapunaru, Stepanov; Madrid, Fernando, Gonzalez, Mariano, Meireles, Guarin, Costa; Farias, Lisandro, Hulk, Rodriguez, Sektioui.
