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Ronaldo aggravates muscle injury
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo aggravated a leg muscle injury in Saturday's 2-1 win over city rivals Atletico, the La Liga club said.
The Portuguese, who was substituted with around 20 minutes left of the match at the Calderon, will have tests to determine the seriousness of the problem, Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).
- Real win Madrid derby to keep pace with Barca
Ronaldo picked up the injury in the club's 7-0 drubbing of Malaga on March 3.
It was not clear whether he will be able to join the Portugal squad for the friendly internationals against Chile and Finland later this month.
Barca's Abidal recovering well after liver tumour surgery
Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is recovering well after surgery on Thursday on a liver tumour, the La Liga team's coach Pep Guardiola said on Saturday.
"He is in good spirits, his family too," Guardiola said of the French international after Barca's 2-1 home win over Getafe.
"We hope that in the next 15 days he'll be ready for us to visit him and he can come and see us at the training ground," he told a news conference.
The club have not released details about the kind of tumour Abidal has and it remains unclear how long he will be out of action. He usually plays at left back but has filled in at centre half several times this season.
Abidal joined Barca from Olympique Lyon in 2007 and has also played for Ligue 1 sides Lille and AS Monaco.
He has made 52 appearances for France, including in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy when he netted a penalty in the shootout that the Italians won 5-3.
Xavi to miss Villarreal game after fifth yellow
Barcelona playmaker Xavi will miss the La Liga leaders' game at fourth-placed Villarreal next month after earning a fifth yellow card in Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Getafe and an automatic one-match suspension.
The Spain international, who is a key component of Barca's possession-based playing style, was cautioned for kicking the ball away late in the game at the Nou Camp.
"He'll have a rest for the Villarreal match and have a clean slate for the next games," coach Pep Guardiola said at a news conference.
"They (the players) know how many cards they have," he added. "I want them to forget it and play their natural game."
Champions Barca have 78 points from 29 matches, five ahead of Real Madrid. Villarreal, who play at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, have 51 points, three behind third-placed Valencia.
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