FCBARCELONA.CAT

27.10.2007 12:30

Return of three key pieces

Sandra Sarmiento

They were three key players in Frank Rijkaard’s first eleven, until they became injured. Gianlucca Zambrotta, Touré Yayá and Rafa Márquez have all been declared match fit, and could be called on for tomorrow’s game against Almeria.

Rafa Màrquez has shortened his recovery period. With 25 days, Màrquez has had sufficient time to recover from the soleus muscle injury in his right leg he suffered during the first few minutes of the Stuttgart-Barça game in the Champions League. This injury obliged Carles Puyol to come on without having time to warm up. Márquez had been on great form before the injury.
Touré Yayá was also playing well.

Touré and Zambrotta

The Ivory Coast midfielder’s presence in a game guaranteed power, aggression and struggle. Touré injured his femoral biceps in his left leg near the end of the Levante-Barça match four weeks ago today.

Finally, Zambrotta was the second player after Samuel Eto’o to suffer a muscular injury. On the 26th of September, the Italian got a right leg calf injury in the 20th minute of the 4-1 victory over Zaragoza, which has kept him out of the team for 32 days.