Iniesta blow for Barça

BARCELONA midfielder Andres Iniesta, below, has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League match at the Emirates due to a hamstring injury.

The midfielder was replaced just after half-time in Saturday’s Primera Division win over Real Mallorca and is likely to be sidelined for 10 days.

That would mean Iniesta missing Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Arsenal and next weekend’s league match with Athletic Bilbao. Barça coach Pep Guardiola will be keeping his fingers crossed the Euro 2008 winner will be available for the return leg against Arsenal and the away match with Real Madrid.

Meanwhile Thierry Henry admits it will be “strange” and “emotional” for him to face his former side in the Champions League.

“I’m very emotional, but also staying calm. It will be a strange game for me. Before the draw I said that I did not want to face Arsenal. That was my wish. But now that’s the game we’ve got and we’ll have to give everything,” said Henry.

“It’s very special. To return home is strange and even more so in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. To see the people, the fans and the other employees at the club again will be very strange.

“I played eight years at Arsenal. It’s like if Xavi left Barca and then returned one day.”