Injured Iniesta eyes European final

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is confident he will be fit for the Champions League final against Manchester United after tests today showed no long-term damage to his right thigh.

Iniesta sustained the injury in last night’s 3-3 draw with Villarreal at the Nou Camp and it was feared he would miss the Rome showpiece.

But the 25-year-old is optimistic he will be fit to line up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side on May 27.

He underwent tests on the injury today, after which he told Sport newspaper: “I will be in Rome.

“It is a small tear that wasn’t as bad as we thought.

“From here until the final I will only think about Rome.

“The desire that I have to play in this final is going to help (my recovery) a lot.”

Barcelona’s official website was also positive on Iniesta’s recovery period after confirming the Spain international has a “two-centimetre tear in the muscle in his right thigh”.