Espanyol lose David García

RCD Espanyol will have to do without defender David García for the UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg at home to SL Benfica on 5 April after he tore ankle ligaments.

Difficult season
The 26-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Espanyol, was hurt in the 4-0 victory against Maccabi Haifa FC last Thursday that sealed the Barcelona club's place in the last eight of the European competition. Tests confirmed the extent of the damage although it is thought he could be fit for the return against Benfica in Lisbon on 12 April. García, who signed a new two-year contract last month, has already missed three months of the season with a left-knee injury sustained in September.