Márquez tests confirm Barça's worst fears

FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola lost two key defenders for next week's UEFA Champions semi-final decider away to Chelsea FC during Tuesday's goalless first leg, Rafael Márquez sustaining a serious knee injury and Carles Puyol collecting a booking that rules him out of the Stamford Bridge return.

Unchallenged
Márquez fell to the turf in agony after going down unchallenged in the 52nd minute. The Mexican international left the field on a stretcher and was taken immediately to hospital. Barcelona have since confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season after initial tests showed he had suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee. "Rafa's loss is the worst thing about today, and we have to make sure we overcome it," said Guardiola.

Commanding presence
The 30-year-old was replaced by club captain Puyol, who had started the game on the bench as Guardiola opted for a centre-half pairing of Márquez and Gerard Piqué, with Eric Abidal deployed at left-back. The Spanish international put in a commanding display following his introduction, his only mistake a mistimed challenge on Michael Essien which earned him a third yellow card in the competition and an automatic one-match suspension.

Options limited
Guardiola could field Piqué and Martín Cáceres in the heart of his defence in London, providing the Uruguayan international has recovered from a bout of tonsillitis which sidelined him for the first leg. Otherwise he may decide on a Piqué-Abidal partnership with Sylvinho deputising for the Frenchman at left-back. "There'll be no excuse for not reaching the final," added Guardiola. "We must find a way to do it."