Barça confirm Ronaldinho lay-off

Ronaldinho could miss the rest of the Spanish season after being ruled out for six weeks. The Brazilian suffered a hamstring strain in his right leg during a training session on Thursday, tempering the mood at Camp Nou after Lionel Messi had returned from two weeks of treatment in his native Argentina.

Moscow finale
Ronaldinho last appeared on 9 March, after which he began to complain of muscle pain in his right leg. The 28-year-old could be forced to sit out FC Barcelona's eight remaining fixtures in the Primera División, which concludes on 18 May – three days before the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow. The 2006 winners are well placed to reach the semi-finals this time round after winning the away leg of their last-eight meeting with FC Schalke 04 1-0 in Germany on Tuesday.

Messi hope
Wednesday's return in Spain is likely to come too soon for Messi as he looks to feature for the first time since 4 March, when he tore his right thigh muscle against Celtic FC. "I'd like to play next week against Schalke, but no one at the club is going to allow that. I want to play as soon as possible, but only when I am 100 per cent," he said. The 20-year-old Argentinian international, who has scored six times in seven UEFA Champions League matches this season, was initially expected to be out for six weeks, and will not be rushed back. "I want the team to pull through and we have everything in our hands to win this Champions League," added Messi.

Deco doubt
Meanwhile, Portuguese midfielder Deco is near to a return from his calf injury but is doubtful for both Sunday's league game against Getafe CF and the return against Schalke. Barcelona are third in Spain after 30 matches, a point behind Villarreal CF and seven behind the leaders Real Madrid CF.