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Defensive blow for Barca

Image: Guardiola: More defensive worries for Barca boss ahead of return leg against Real

Barcelona have been handed another defensive headache with Gabriel Milito set to miss the rest of the season.

But Guardiola boosted by Iniesta return

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has been handed another defensive headache with Gabriel Milito set to miss the rest of the season. The Argentinian centre-back faces up to six weeks on the sidelines after tearing his calf muscle in the Primera Liga defeat at Real Sociedad. Milito looks likely to miss Barca's final four league games and will be unable to help the Catalan giants in their quest for Champions League glory against Real Madrid this week. It is a further blow for Guardiola who already has a defensive crisis on his hands with left-backs Eric Abidal, Maxwell and Adriano all missing.

Return

Young defender Martin Montoya has also been ruled out for six weeks after breaking his collarbone just 12 minutes into his senior debut in San Sebastian. But there was better news with midfielder Andreas Iniesta, who missed the first leg against Real with a calf injury, returning to training. Barca, who need four points from their remaining four games to retain the league title, hold a 2-0 advantage over fierce rivals Madrid ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg.

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