体坛英语新闻：Injuries still puzzle Barca in Champions League

MADRID, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona's injury crisis continues as they look to assure they will finish top of their qualifying group in the Champions League away to Ajax of Amsterdam on Tuesday night.

A win over Ajax will assure Barca the group leaders, the advantage of playing the return leg of the knockout round at home, and a theoretically easier tie in the next round.

Barcelona showed on Saturday that injuries to players such as Xavi Hernandez, Leo Messi, Dani Alves and Victor Valdes is not going to stop them winning games with ease in Spain as they beat Granada 4-0 in the Camp Nou Stadium.

Xavi will be able to play in Amsterdam, given that his absence at the weekend was more for precaution after the marathon trip with the Spanish national team, but his return is balanced out by the loss of left back Adriano, who will miss the trip with a twisted ankle.

Barca coach Tata Martino is already without Jordi Alba, who is putting the finishing touches to his return after a long-term muscle injury and has decided to call B-team defenders Sergi Gomez and Patric Gabarron into his squad, although the most likely solution would be for Martin Montoya to play on the left, as he has done on occasions, and Carles Puyol to play at right back.

Meanwhile with Leo Messi out for around six weeks, the question is whether he will risk Neymar from the start on Tuesday night, knowing that the young Brazilian will be vital to his side while Messi is sidelined and that next weekend sees Barca face a trip to play Athletic Club Bilbao, who have so far not lost in their San Mames Stadium this season.

Ajax will bear in mind that Barca had few problems in defeating them 4-0 earlier this season, but the side coached by former Barca defender, Frank de Boer will be aware than a win against the Catalans will give them a fighting chance of making the knockout stages themselves.

Barca have not been playing their best football of late, a fact made clear by a look at the possession stats in recent games, which show their rivals have enjoyed almost as much of the ball as they have. That does not mean their effectiveness in front of goal has dried up, as evidenced by 8 goals in their last two matches, so against a side which also likes to move the ball fluidly, Tuesday should provide an interesting test.

Tuesday night also sees Atletico Madrid travel to face Zenit St Petersburg. Atletico travel already assured of a place in the last 16 of the competition and as winners of their qualifying group and coach Diego Simeone has already announced he will rest key players for domestic game next weekend.