Belletti curse strikes again
Monday, April 16, 2007
Article summary
Juliano Belletti will miss much of FC Barcelona's title run-in after pulling his hamstring on his return from injury during the 1-0 defeat of RCD Mallorca on Sunday.
Article body
Juliano Belletti will miss much of FC Barcelona's title run-in after pulling his right hamstring on his return from injury during the 1-0 defeat of RCD Mallorca last night which extended the champions' lead at the top of the Primera División to four points.
Injury curse
The Brazilian full-back, who scored the winning goal in last season's UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal FC, came on in the 80th minute at Camp Nou for Gianluca Zambrotta only for his injury curse to strike again. The 30-year-old has already suffered knee ligament, ankle and groin injuries this term and the club expect him to miss another month following this latest blow, ruling him out of up to five of Barça's eight remaining league games. Belletti has made just 16 appearances this season.
Edmílson out
Barcelona will be without another Brazilian defender, Edmílson, for a fortnight as the 30-year nurses a pulled right calf. The Catalan club meet Getafe CF in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday, and are also on course to retain their Spanish title after opening up a four-point gap at the weekend.