Brilliant Barca trounce Madrid in El Classico
Riquelme suffered a right hamstring strain during training last night.
Ironically, Riquelme was rested from Saturday's 0-0 draw with Real Zaragoza in order to keep him fresh for the trip to Old Trafford.
Villarreal said that their striker Enrique Figueroa, who suffered a thigh twinge against Zaragoza, had been passed fit along with defender Javi Venta and both men have been included in Villarreal's 18-man squad.
The big question is whether Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastian Viera will return now that he is fit again after a shoulder injury or whether Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini will continue with his Argentine reserve Mariano Barbosa.
Joining Riquelme in front of the television at home are club captain Quique Alvarez, who sustained a knee injury earlier this month, and strikers Diego Forlan and Antonio Guayre.
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho hailed Barcelona’s 3-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on Saturday as a “perfect” performance.
“It was the kind of game you dream about, it was a perfect display,” Ronaldinho said.
Barcelona have moved to the top of the Primera Liga, four points ahead of third-placed Real. Barca have scored 21 goals in their last six games in all competitions and only conceded one.
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o opened the scoring with an opportunist’s strike after 15 minutes and Ronaldinho notched two brilliant individual goals in the second half.
On 60 minutes, he carried the ball 40 metres, shrugging off two defenders before firing home. Sixteen minutes later, he raced past Sergio Ramos to finish inside the near post.
Ronaldinho, given a standing ovation by the home fans, said: “For me it was a very emotional moment and I will never forget it because it isn’t often opposition fans applaud you.
“It isn’t something that you expect to happen in your career. I didn’t know that it had only happened here before with Maradona.”
Barca captain Carles Puyol said: “Ronaldinho is the best player in the world. He showed it today but he has also demonstrated it in other games.
“It is a surprising scoreline but Ronaldinho’s plays and the work of the rest of the team earned us the victory.”
Real defender Michel Salgado summed up the side's feelings after they were jeered off the field. “We are shattered. It’s been a hard blow,” he said.
“Barca were better up front, defended better and played better. We have to face the facts because we gave the fans nothing to cheer about.
“It’s the worst game I’ve been involved in since I have been at the club. We will continue to fight for the league but it clearly won’t be easy.”
Real now have to pick themselves up to face Olympique Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday.
In Italy, Fiorentina ended AC Milan’s eight-game winning streak in Serie A yesterday with Luca Toni scoring twice in the 3-1 victory.
Toni, expected to lead Italy at the next year’s World Cup, scored the first goal in the 10th minute and added another in the 86th. Martin Jorgensen scored the other in the opening minute of the second half. Alberto Gilardino scored Milan’s only goal in the 24th.
Milan slipped five points behind leader Juventus and are tied for second with Fiorentina, which barely escaped relegation last season. Juventus, who beat AS Roma 4-1 Saturday, has 33 points.
Also, Sampdoria scored two late goals to beat Lazio 2-0, and Livorno defeated Empoli 2-0.
Nemanja Vucicevic, of German second division club TSV 1860 Munich, has tested positive for the banned substance Finasteride.
Vucicevic, a forward from Serbia & Montenegro, gave the positive sample after the match against Wacker Burghausen on November 4.
1860 Munich managing director Roland Kneissl said the player had used a hair-restoring product without consulting the club’s medical staff.
“We hope for a mild punishment,” Kneissl added.
In France, two goals from Brazilian defender Cris enabled champions Lyon to beat struggling Troyes 2-1 on Saturday and extend their unbeaten Ligue 1 run to 15 matches.
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