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Xavi recovery boosts Barça

Spanish international midfielder Xavi Hernández returned to the FC Barcelona squad on Friday five months after suffering a serious knee ligament injury.

Spain midfielder Xavi Hernández returned to the FC Barcelona squad on Friday five months after suffering a serious knee injury.

Double fillip
His comeback is a major boost both to coach Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona prepare for a UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal FC, and to the 26-year-old playmaker's chances of making Luis Aragonés's Spain squad for the FIFA World Cup. Xavi, who has been capped 33 times by his country, tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee in training at the beginning of December.

Title tilt
Barcelona can retain the Spanish title this weekend if they beat struggling Cádiz CF at the Camp Nou on Saturday and second-placed Valencia CF fail to defeat another relegation-threatened side, Deportivo Alavés, at home on Sunday. The Catalan club take on Arsenal at the Stade de France on 17 May.

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