Espanyol's Jônatas faces fitness race
Monday, February 5, 2007
Article summary
RCD Espanyol midfielder Jônatas faces an uphill battle to line up against AS Livorno Calcio in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 after tearing his calf at the weekend.
Article body
RCD Espanyol midfielder Jônatas faces an uphill battle if he is to line up against AS Livorno Calcio in the first leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie after tearing his calf at the weekend.
Difficult period
The 24-year-old Brazilian sustained the injury during the 2-1 defeat to Real Zaragoza on Saturday night, and the initial prognosis is that he will be out for the next fortnight. That means he is unlikely to recover in time to face Livorno at the Stadio Armando Picchi on 14 February, completing a miserable spell for Jônatas, whose father was kidnapped in December. He has since been released.
