Barça posed a Puyol problem

Friday 1 February 2008

e-mail

Print

Digg

Save

Carles Puyol may be out of action for up to a month (©Getty Images)

Captain Carles Puyol risks missing FC Barcelona's UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against Celtic FC after being laid off with a torn thigh muscle.

Taken off
The 29-year-old centre-back is in danger of sitting out the Celtic tie after damaging his right thigh during Barcelona's 1-0 win against Villarreal CF in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals last night. He has already been ruled out of Spain's friendly against France next week. Puyol had to be replaced by Lilian Thuram at half-time at Camp Nou and is not expected back for another three to four weeks. The Blaugrana face Celtic in Glasgow on 20 February before the return match in Spain on 4 March. Puyol was sidelined after spraining knee ligaments in June but has managed 16 Primera División appearances this season and six more in the UEFA Champions League, scoring once.