The Hindu : Sport / Football : Wounded Barcelona braced for Real duel

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Wounded Barcelona braced for Real duel

MADRID: With the Kings Cup final loss fresh in its mind, Barcelona is out for revenge when it faces bitter rival Real Madrid in Wednesday's eagerly-anticipated Champions League semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It is the third meeting between the two Spanish powerhouses in just 12 days and Barcelona hopes to continue its impressive recent record at the Bernabeu as it looks to bounce back from the 1-0 Kings Cup extra-time final defeat to Real five days ago.

History favours Real

History is on Madrid's side with Real getting the better of Barcelona in its two previous semifinal meetings in the 1960 European Cup and most recently the last four of the 2002 Champions League with Madrid going on to be crowned champion on both occasions.

Boon for Barca

The form of Messi and David Villa's goal at the weekend, ending an 11-game drought in all competitions, is a boon for Barca but an injury to Brazilian Adriano is their latest defensive concern. Full-back Adriano could miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury so Guardiola is stretched at the back with captain Carles Puyol struggling with muscular problems and Frenchman Eric Abidal recovering from surgery on a liver tumour. Real is having more luck with Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain and Brazilian playmaker Kaka back to their best after long lay-offs.

Higuain scored a hat-trick and Kaka grabbed a brace in Real's 6-3 win at Valencia on Saturday to throw their hats into the ring for a starting place against Barca.

“He (Kaka) had a fantastic game in a position I like a lot,” said Mourinho. “It is fantastic for his confidence.”

Mourinho rested key players such as Pepe, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored the winner in the Cup final, but will be handicapped by the absence of experienced centre-back Ricardo Carvalho through suspension.

Likely XI: Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa, Marcelo, Lass Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Pepe, Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel di Maria

Barcelona: Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol (or Maxwell), Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Sergi Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Lionel Messi, Pedro Rodriguez . — AFP

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