Barca turn to youth for Spanish Cup trip

31 January 2012 20:16

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will turn to four graduates from the club's youth academy to make up for a mini-injury crisis in Wednesday's Spanish Cup semi-final first-leg trip to Valencia.

Guardiola, whose side reached this stage at the expense of bitter rivals and holders Real Madrid, was already without long-term injured duo David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay.

But his problems have mounted since the two-legged quarter-final win over Real last week as one of the goalscorers from the second leg, Pedro Rodriguez, has suffered a groin injury and midfielder Andres Iniesta has a thigh problem.

Mali midfielder Seydou Keita is another absentee as he is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Guardiola will therefore turn to the quartet of Spanish midfielder Sergi Roberto, Mexican midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos, forward Cristian Tello and winger Isaac Cuenca, who earlier on Tuesday extended his contract with the club until June 2015.

Source: AFP