Ibra to miss clash with Gunners

BARCELONA striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of tomorrow night’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal through injury.

The Swede suffered a calf injury in the warm up before Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Tests confirmed Ibrahimovic suffered a tear in his right calf and is out of the return meeting with Arsenal and is a doubt for next weekend’s ‘Clasico’ with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Ibrahimovic scored both goals as Barca drew the first leg of their quarter-final tie with Arsenal 2-2 at the Emirates last Wednesday, taking his tally to five goals in four games.

But coach Pep Guardiola is concerned by his side’s mounting injury crisis ahead of the second leg. Barca will already be missing suspended duo Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique in defence, while Andres Iniesta is unlikely to return from injury.

“We are short of players for Tuesday and we need support at the Nou Camp, the crowd can push us on – it’s a real final,” Guardiola said. “It’s our most important game of the whole year.”

One player seemingly certain to start on Tuesday is Maxwell, who was criticised for his lack of pace up against Arsenal’s Theo Walcott. Guardiola says that was unfair.

“I heard unfair remarks about him following the game against Arsenal, but Theo Walcott can run 100 metres in 10.37,” he said.

Barca showed they have plenty in reserve ahead of the Arsenal return with a team featuring several fringe players at the Nou Camp.

Youngster Jeffren Suarez, who started on the right of midfield, opened the scoring after 26 minutes, before Bojan bagged a brace either side of half-time. Lionel Messi added a fourth midway through the second period and, although Markel Susaeta pulled a goal back for Athletic late on, it was merely a consolation.

Guardiola switched Puyol to right-back in the absence of the suspended Dani Alves, while Dmitro Chygrynskiy was handed a rare start in central defence alongside Pique.

Eric Abidal, recently recovered from injury, was reinstated at left-back, with Maxwell moving forward to play in front of the Frenchman in midfield.

There was also a return to the side for Yaya Toure.