Xavi blow for Barca

Barcelona have been dealt a blow after Xavi was ruled out for two weeks after suffering a knock in training.

The playmaker picked up a calf injury in training ahead of the UEFA Champions League win over Stuttgart on Wednesday evening.

Xavi has played 40 games for Barca this term already, scoring six times, and is widely seen as one of the key players in Pep Guardiola's outfit.

The Spain international missed the 4-0 win over Stuttgart and is unlikely to appear against Real Zaragoza on Sunday or against Osasuna three days later.

BoostGuardiola did have some good news as Seydou Keita was given the green light to return to training after working hard over the past few days.

The Mali enforcer has been out of action for just over a month after limping out of the defeat against Atletico Madrid in Vicente Calderon in February.

Andres Iniesta is likely to become the main playmaker in the Blaugrana midfield in the absence of Xavi with Yaya Toure, Keita and Sergio Busquets vying for the two places alongside him.

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Pique - Stopping Cesc is key

Gerard Pique believes that if Barcelona can stop Cesc Fabregas from pulling the strings for Arsenal then they will beat the Premier League outfit in the UEFA Champions League.

The Catalan defender cited the midfield playmaker as the Gunners' key man after the reigning kings of Europe were paired with Arsene Wenger's team in the quarter-finals.

Gunners captain Fabregas remains very much Arsenal's talisman and a return to the club where he was schooled makes for a fascinating encounter.

"Cesc is the one that creates the play and is the most important player in their team," explained Pique.

"They certainly have other good players that complement Cesc, but he is most important."

Arsenal's emphasis on attacking football has seen them compared to Barcelona and Pique agrees that their styles are similar.

"I like the way that Arsenal play," he continued. "They move the ball around and they look to keep possession like we do. We have similar styles and we will have to see who triumphs."

Wenger's team will be no pushovers, according to Pique, and any talk of them being inexperienced was dismissed by the former Manchester United man.

"They reached the Champions League semi-final last season when they lost to Manchester United. In the Premier League they have a chance to win the title and I think Arsenal are a tough team," he added.

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Nivaldo accuses Ronaldo

Real Valladolid defender Nivaldo has accused Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo of being a 'provocative' player following their weekend meeting.

The world's most expensive player was on the end of an apparent stamp from the Brazilian stopper in Sunday's 4-1 success for Real.

Nivaldo admits the ex-Manchester United star is a talented player, but feels the Portugal wizard is able to have his way with the officials.

"It is a bit complicated, he (Ronaldo) is a good player but he does things that the referees let him get away with," he told radio Cadena Ser .

"If others did what he did for sure the referee would say something.

"He is very provocative and when we try to talk to him, he talks about other things."

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Lotina extends Depor deal

Miguel Angel Lotina has signed a one-year contract extension at Deportivo la Coruna.

His current deal was set to expire at the end of the season, but he will now remain in the hot-seat for a further 12 months.

Talks between Lotina and club president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro had been ongoing since before Christmas, with the finishing touches finally put to the deal this week.

Lotina took charge at the Riazor in 2007, replacing Joaquin Caparros.

He is currently on target to lead Depor to their highest league finish since 2003/04, when they finished third.

By remaining at the helm for another year he becomes just the third Depor coach in the last 80 years to last three seasons in the job.

"It is possible to work here without excessive pressure and I am calm," said Lotina.

"Now the challenge is to obtain a European place, while fighting for a Champions League spot if possible."

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New comp law for EU clubs

European judges ruled that football clubs can seek compensation if young trainees of theirs sign their first professional contract with another club in the EU.

The rule, enforced by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, applies to players aged between 16 and 22 and is designed to encourage the recruitment and training of young professionals.

The new European-wide legislation is similar to what is already in place in the UK but can help prevent ongoing disputes between clubs within the entire EU as clubs would receive "proportionate" incentives.

A statement from the European Court of Justice confirmed: "In view of the considerable social importance of sporting activities, and in particular football in the EU, the objective of encouraging the recruitment and training of young players must be accepted as legitimate.

"In the court's view, the prospect of receiving training fees is likely to encourage football clubs to seek new talent and train young players.

"A scheme providing for the payment of compensation for training where a young player, at the end of his training, signs a professional contract with a club other than the one which trained him can, in principle, be justified by the objective of encouraging the recruitment and training of young players.

"The amount of that compensation is to be determined by taking account of the costs borne by the clubs in training both future professional players and those who will never play professionally."

The case which sparked the updated law change was that of Olivier Bernard's controversial move to Newcastle after the player signed a professional contract with the Magpies in 1997 despite undergoing a three-year training scheme with Lyon.

A French court ordered that both player and club were liable for Ј48,000, the equivalent of Bernard's wages had he signed professionally with the Ligue 1 side, in Lyon's favour.

Upon appeal from Newcastle and Bernard, the French appeal court asked the European Court of Justice to intervene as a third party to clear up the matter, and any similar cases in future.

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Pep faces 'liar' investigation

The Spanish footballing authorities are to investigate 'liar' accusations made by Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola hit out at referee Clos Gomez and his assistant following the game with Almeria two weeks ago.

He made the accusations last Friday, calling them 'liars' for what they included in their report about the Barca coach's complaints which saw him sent off in the match which ended as a draw.

The Appeals Committee decided not to rescind the punishment and Guardiola was forced to sit in the stands for Sunday's 3-0 victory over Valencia.

But Spanish media report that the Competition Committee is now to investigate Guardiola regarding the comments and - depending on the findings - could suspend the Barca coach for more matches.

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Malaga defender out for season

Malaga central defender Weligton is set to miss the remainder of the season after breaking a bone in his left foot.

The 30-year-old Brazilian suffered the injury during Malaga's game against Almeria on Sunday and was forced from the field.

Tests have confirmed the severity of the problem, leaving the player unable to move his foot for five weeks.

Weligton will now undergo a period of rehabilitation as he tries to recover from the setback.

The news will be a blow to Malaga manager Jose Ramon Lopez Muniz as the defender has been a regular in the team so far this term.

Fellow centre-backs Stepanov and Helder Rosario are also sidelined, leaving the coach with few options in that position.

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