Iniesta blow for Barca

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal due to a thigh injury.

Iniesta suffered the problem during Barca's 1-0 win at Mallorca in La Liga on Saturday and he was replaced by Lionel Messi early in the second half.

He underwent tests on the injury on Sunday morning and scans have shown Iniesta will require 10 days on the sidelines.

It means he will miss Barca's trip to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and the league game against Athletic Bilbao next weekend.

The Spain international will now be in a race against the clock to be fit for Arsenal's visit to Camp Nou on 6th April, while Barca then face title rivals Real Madrid.

Iniesta's place in the team to face Arsenal in midweek is likely to be taken by Xavi, who appeared as a second-half substitute against Mallorca.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola is also optimistic that Gerard Pique will be fit to tackle the Gunners after the former Manchester United defender missed the Mallorca game.

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Barcelona continued their charge for the Primera Liga title with a hard-fought 1-0 win at UEFA Champions League hopefuls Mallorca.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal proved to be the difference as Barca moved back to the top of the table ahead of Real Madrid's derby with Atletico on Sunday.

Mallorca were unfortunate to lose and came close to scoring after just two minutes when Aritz Aduriz's thunderbolt smacked against the inside of the far post.

Barca keeper Victor Valdes, who had been beaten by that effort, then did well to scramble across his line to parry away Gonzalo Castro's follow-up shot.

The reigning champions had a goal disallowed in the 12th minute for a marginal offside against Pedro Rodriguez, while Gabriel Milito was denied by a superb flying save by Dudu Aouate eight minutes later.

Barca survived a second huge scare four minutes before the break when Mallorca hit the woodwork again. Borja Valero was the unlucky man on this occasion, hitting the post from a 25-yard free-kick.

The winner came on 63 minutes when Xavi's corner was stabbed goalwards by Carles Puyol and, after Aouate could only parry the ball, Ibrahimovic was on hand to slot home from close range.

Real Zaragoza boosted their survival hopes with a convincing 3-0 home win over 10-man Valencia.

Diogo's thunderous finish gave Zaragoza the lead four minutes before half-time before Nikola Zigic was dismissed for a second bookable offence just before the interval.

The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage as Javier Arismendi scored with a crisp volley on 63 minutes and Jiri Jarosik then stuck out a leg to divert a corner past Cesar on 71 minutes.

Tenerife picked up a point in their battle to avoid a swift return to the second tier after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Malaga.

Pablo Sicilia crashed a powerful header against the crossbar for Tenerife, while Felipe Caicedo hit the post for Malaga.

The breakthrough came when Apono headed home Manolo Gaspars' cross from close range to give Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's side the lead after 66 minutes.

Tenerife refused to give in and won a penalty five minutes from time, when Patrick Mtiliga brought down Nino, who had looked certain to score.

The Danish defender received his marching orders and Alejandro Alfaro made no mistake from the spot to give the visitors a share of the spoils.

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Callejon open to Prem switch

Jose Callejon has admitted he would be interested in a move to England amid reports that Wigan are close to agreeing a deal with Espanyol.

Roberto Martinez is understood to have been tracking the progress of the Spanish forward who has caught the eye with a series of impressive performances for Espanyol.

Callejon stated earlier this month that he was happy at Espanyol but could not say with any certainty what might happen in the future.

Speculation suggests that Wigan has since stepped up their pursuit and are in negotiations with the 23-year-old's agent.

Espanyol are thought to be ready to do business as they look to ease their money worries and might let Callejon go for a fee in the region of Ј4.5million.

Callejon is aware of the transfer talk and concedes that playing in England would be a magnificent opportunity.

"For me this is good praise because I have been working hard this season," he said in the Spanish press.

"If the operation is positive for all parties then I am open to the challenge of the Premier League."

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Arsenal target flattered

Real Zaragoza starlet Ander Herrera admits he is flattered by reported interest from Arsenal.

The Gunners are understood to be keen on sealing a deal for the Spain Under-21 international midfielder.

The Basque-born 20-year-old only made his first-team debut last August, but is already considered one of the best young prospects in La Liga.

Arsenal are believed to have been scouting Herrera for a number of months and even Arsene Wenger's No.2 Pat Rice is reported to have made a couple of personal checks on him this year.

Now Zaragoza have confirmed Arsenal's interest in signing their star youngster.

"The interest in Herrera is true, but if Arsenal want the kid they must pay his true value," Zaragoza president Agapito Iglesias is quoted as saying.

Spanish sources claim Arsenal have lodged a bid of €10million (Ј8.8million), but this has been rejected as Zaragoza want at least €15million (Ј13.3million) for the player who has a buy-out clause of €24million (Ј21million).

Honour

Talks between the two clubs are thought to be continuing and the player himself admits he is honoured by the talk, but he insists that he is only concerned about keeping lowly Zaragoza in La Liga.

"It is a compliment to see a great club looking at me, but I would say Arsenal is like a dream," he told AS .

"But all these questions are pointless, Zaragoza remains my priority - nothing and no-one will divert my attention.

"Of course you hear things, but my agent is not going to say anything that might divert my attention before the end of the season in Spain.

"My only goal now is to help save Zaragoza, but then if there is something we shall see."

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Alves seeks away goal

Dani Alves insists that Barcelona will be gunning for an away goal when they tackle Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.

The European giants meet in the quarter-finals of the competition with the first leg being played at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

Barca come into the game on the back of four consecutive Primera Liga wins, although Arsenal are strong on home soil in Europe having won all five of their games to date.

The meeting between the teams is their first since Barcelona claimed the Champions League title with a 2-1 success over Arsenal in the 2006 final in Paris.

Alves admits the pressure will be on Barca to progress to the semi-finals of the competition and set up a possible meeting with Inter Milan or CSKA Moscow, although the expectations are nothing they cannot handle.

Pressure

"We're the favourites and there is extra pressure on us, but this is normal," he told skysports.com . "We might be champions, but we're not guaranteed to reach the semi-finals.

"The tie will be decided in Camp Nou, although we want to boost our chances of success in London.

"In Europe there are no easy games. However, if we play our normal game with our normal rhythm then we should get a positive result.

"Every match is different and La Liga is not the Champions League. Against Osasuna we struggled to break down their defensive system, but I'm convinced Arsenal play a different kind of football.

"If the English side fail in trying to control the ball then we'll score goals. I'm sure.

"Our aim is to score in London and to pressurise the Gunners. We're improving our form in La Liga and we need to take that form into the Champions League.

"I'm optimistic as always and for me Barcelona will be in the semi-finals of the Champions League."

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Keita questions Real's rivals

Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita believes too many teams in Spain give an easy ride to Real Madrid.

He claims a number of teams take their foot off the gas when facing the capital club, allowing them a stroll towards three points.

Keita was speaking in the wake of Real's 3-2 derby win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, during which they scored three goals in 13 second half minutes.

That win helped to take Manuel Pellegrini's side back to the Primera Liga summit, on goal difference, and Keita has questioned the effort put in by many of Real's rivals over the course of the 2009/10 campaign.

"I didn't watch it (the derby) because I knew Real Madrid were going to win," said Keita.

"I don't know if opponents give 100 per cent against Madrid."

Opinion

He added: "It's only a personal opinion. Madrid players may also think the same about teams who play us because Barca always seem to win."

Keita has further strengthened his argument by reflecting on comments made by Getafe boss Michel ahead of their 4-2 defeat to Real last Thursday.

A former Santiago Bernabeu favourite, he caused consternation among the Barca camp by offering his support to his former employers in the Spanish title race.

"The Getafe coach said he would like to see Madrid win the title, and if you say this the day before you play, it's not normal," added Mali international Keita.

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Barcelona continued their charge for the Primera Liga title with a hard-fought 1-0 win at UEFA Champions League hopefuls Mallorca.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal proved to be the difference as Barca moved back to the top of the table ahead of Real Madrid's derby with Atletico on Sunday.

Mallorca were unfortunate to lose and came close to scoring after just two minutes when Aritz Aduriz's thunderbolt smacked against the inside of the far post.

Barca keeper Victor Valdes, who had been beaten by that effort, then did well to scramble across his line to parry away Gonzalo Castro's follow-up shot.

The reigning champions had a goal disallowed in the 12th minute for a marginal offside against Pedro Rodriguez, while Gabriel Milito was denied by a superb flying save by Dudu Aouate eight minutes later.

Barca survived a second huge scare four minutes before the break when Mallorca hit the woodwork again. Borja Valero was the unlucky man on this occasion, hitting the post from a 25-yard free-kick.

The winner came on 63 minutes when Xavi's corner was stabbed goalwards by Carles Puyol and, after Aouate could only parry the ball, Ibrahimovic was on hand to slot home from close range.

Real Zaragoza boosted their survival hopes with a convincing 3-0 home win over 10-man Valencia.

Diogo's thunderous finish gave Zaragoza the lead four minutes before half-time before Nikola Zigic was dismissed for a second bookable offence just before the interval.

The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage as Javier Arismendi scored with a crisp volley on 63 minutes and Jiri Jarosik then stuck out a leg to divert a corner past Cesar on 71 minutes.

Tenerife picked up a point in their battle to avoid a swift return to the second tier after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Malaga.

Pablo Sicilia crashed a powerful header against the crossbar for Tenerife, while Felipe Caicedo hit the post for Malaga.

The breakthrough came when Apono headed home Manolo Gaspars' cross from close range to give Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's side the lead after 66 minutes.

Tenerife refused to give in and won a penalty five minutes from time, when Patrick Mtiliga brought down Nino, who had looked certain to score.

The Danish defender received his marching orders and Alejandro Alfaro made no mistake from the spot to give the visitors a share of the spoils.

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