Injury doubts for Espanyol
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Article summary
RCD Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde is sweating on the fitness of two key players ahead of the UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg showdown with SL Benfica.
Article body
RCD Espanyol will give late fitness tests to Albert Riera and Francisco Chica before naming his team to host SL Benfica in Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg.
Injury doubts
Midfielder Riera, 24, sprained his left ankle during a training session this week, while 21-year-old defender Chica damaged his groin during Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Valencia CF.
Fitness boost
On the plus side, coach Ernesto Valverde will be able to call on defender Daniel Jarque and midfielders Iván de la Peña and Moisés Hurtado after the trio were declared fit following minor muscle injuries. Pablo Zabaleta also comes into contention after the Argentinian midfielder played 25 minutes at the weekend following two and a half months out with a back problem.
Benfica blow
The team news for Benfica, meanwhile, is that 25-year-old midfielder Paulo Jorge will sit out the action in Barcelona with a thigh complaint. Coach Fernando Santos had already been deprived of the services of defender Luisão (knee) and midfielder Konstantinos Katsouranis (suspended).
