Barcelona lose Xavi as injury crisis worsens

Barcelonas injury crisis took another hit this morning when it was confirmed that Xavi Hernandez has been struck by a muscle tear in his right leg, rendering Barcelonas midfield wizard out of action for two weeks. This means the brains behind Barcelona and Spains recent run of glory is out of the league ties against Racing Santander next weekend at the Camp Nou and away at Malaga the week after, as well as the Champions League clash next week against Stuttgart. A massive headache for Pep Guardiola who already has to contend with the absences of Eric Abidal, Dani Alves, Toure Yaya, Chygrynskiy and Seydou Keita, who was also injured against Atlético Madrid.

Pep quite rightly states that these things happen in football, and they will have to make do with the resources available, just as Real Madrid did when they lost Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Pepe and Ruud Van Nistlerooy for considerable periods of time. Barca will be boosted by the returns of Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez at the back, so whilst the defence should now be in safe hands, it is now the midfield that will concern Guardiola. Xavi is an vital cog in the Barca machine, and without him that effortless link between defence and attack will be missing. The manager will surely stick with the 4-3-3 formation that has served them so well against Stuttgart, so whilst Lionel Messi and Pedro will be tasked with providing the width upfront, it is the central three that will be threadbare.

Sergio Busquets is available for that Champions League QF first-leg, but against Racing Santander he is suspended, leaving Barca short of that specialist defensive midfielder so important to their formation. Without him, Toure Yaya nor Seydou Keita, you have to think that against Santander, Pep might even have to switch to a 4-4-2, with Lionel Messi and Ibra upfront, and Thierry Henry, Andrés Iniesta, Pedro and Jeffren in the middle. A seriously attacking midfield quartet, but unless Guardiola wants to delve into the Barcelona B side, it's all he will have available. It's that or stick with the usual formation and push Pique or Marquez forward into midfield. Barcelona enter into a critical couple of weeks that will shape their season, with Real Madrid breathing down their necks at home and an important Champions League quarter-final to negotiate in Europe. They'll be glad they only drew Stuttgart and that Racing are suffering from an injury and suspension crisis of their own.