Barcelona central defender Carles Puyol is unlikely to play in the first leg of the club's UEFA Champions League tie versus Arsenal on Wednesday according to manager Pep Guardiola. The 32-year-old Puyol has been battling a knee injury and has not played since a January 22nd match versus Racing Santander.
Carlos Puyol Likely To Miss Champions League Match Versus Arsenal
Puyol will not play in the club’s match versus Sporting Gijon this weekend and Guardiola has said that he will almost certainly miss the Champions League match as well despite taking part in some light training recently. Puyol is said to be nowhere near match fitness and Guardiola described his chances at playing in London on Wednesday as “really complicated.”
The Barcelona vs. Arsenal match-up is the most anticipated of all of the Champions League round of 16 ties. Barcelona is widely considered to be the world’s top team at the moment and sits atop the La Liga table, while Arsenal are in second place in the English Premier League.
When the two clubs met in last year's Champions League, Barcelona managed a draw at Emirates Stadium before returning home for the second leg and dominating the Gunners, 4-0. Without Puyol the task will be tougher for the Catalans as the ask Eric Abidal to step in for Puyol.
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