FC Barcelona will play without brazilian magician Ronaldinho and Argentinian superstarlet Messi against Villareal but their is a surprise return for Barca´s Mexican defender Rafael Marquez. FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard left out the Brazilian international Ronaldinho Gaucho out of his final squad because "he has not trained for a few days and is not quite back to his best, so I would rather rest him and have him back to full fitness for the next game against Milan". Barca manager Rijkaard is very glad to have his defender Rafael Márquez back and said: "It is great news that he has been given the medical all-clear. He is an important player in this team". Mexican Rafa Márquez returns after being sidelined for a month with torn fibres in his right leg suffered against Real Sociedad.
But Ronaldinho will miss the game, as he did against Racing Santander last week. The Brazilian is still not fully fit after hurting his leg against Benfica in the Champions League quarter final. The Medical Services have announced that Ronaldinho is recovering well from the muscular problems he is suffering in his right leg. From Thursday on he will be undergoing individual training and will rejoin the team as normal after the match.