Barca give young star Iniesta a chance

Barcelona’s promising youngster Andres Iniesta gets the chance to cement a place in the side after being given the nod to play against relegation-threatened Malaga this weekend.

A thigh injury for Ludovic Giuly has given the opening to the Spanish under-21 international to show coach Frank Rijkaard he is worthy of a place in the first-team against a Malaga side on Saturday which is in free-fall.

Giuly misses the match against Malaga and could also sit out the Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk next week after picking up the strain during a friendly match.

Iniesta has shone during his appearances as a substitute this season but such has been the competition for places that only now as a result of injury will he be given 90 minutes.

An attacking midfielder, he has been touted for the top ever since his emergence from the youth ranks.

The large number of injuries at the Nou Camp has been a constant theme in the Spanish press with a large question mark over the warm-up techniques for players and Rijkaard himself has stated that the matter needs to be looked into.

“You cannot blame bad luck for the injuries, each one has its reason,” he said this week. The Dutchman will have only 13 first-team players available which has led to a reliance on inexperienced youth players.

Barca plan to reinforce the side during the January transfer window and Rijkaard clearly has in mind what is needed.

“At the moment the side needs two central midfield players and a striker although it is not difficult to see where we are looking,” he said.

Despite the dearth of man-power Rijkaard is still upbeat about the team which has established a seven-point lead at the top of the Primera Division.

“All the people at Barca are working for the same thing, we can be happy for the way we have played during 2004 and we have a lot to look forward to in 2005,” he said.

Barca are unlikely to show any mercy to a Malaga team which has lost its last four matches.