Raúl to miss Porto tie

Real Madrid CF striker Raúl González is almost certain to miss the Spanish side's UEFA Champions League encounter with FC Porto through injury.

Left thigh
Raúl faces more than two weeks on the sidelines after suffering a thigh strain in the closing minutes of last night's 2-1 defeat by Real Valladolid. The 24-year-old played the entire match at the José Zorrilla stadium but walked off the pitch in obvious discomfort at the end and tests have revealed a strain at the back of his left thigh.

Misses Spain friendly
Raul will definitely miss Madrid's league matches against UD Las Palmas and Athletic Club Bilbao and is also out of Spain's friendly against Portugal on 13 February. The Merengues' home meeting with Group C rivals Porto on 19 February is likely to come too soon for the 24-year-old, whose absence adds to the selection problems of coach Vicente del Bosque.

Back for cup final
Madrid are already without Fernando Hierro, Michel Salgado and Savio for this weekend's fixture against Las Palmas and there are also doubts over Zinedine Zidane, who has been struggling with an ankle problem. Raúl should be back in time to face RC Deportivo La Coruña in the Copa del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium on 6 March.