March 13, 2008 11:06 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Deco Out, Ronaldinho A Doubt As Barca Woes Deepen

Frank Rijkaard will be without Deco for Barcelona's game at Almería on Sunday and could also see Ronaldinho ruled out as the Brazilian is doubtful to recover from a knock in time.

The Blaugrana are suffering a mini injury crisis as Touré Yaya is also struggling with slipped disc, while Rafa Márquez and Giovani Dos Santos are both looking to return to full fitness.

Barça face a must-win contest at Almería and Rijkaard is already without Lionel Messi and will now have to reshuffle his forward line if Ronaldinho is not given the green light.

Deco has a calf strain that means that he cannot travel as the club's medical team confirmed: "The risk of making the injury worse in his right leg means that he cannot play."

Sylvinho is also out with gastroentiritis and Gaby Milito left training early on Thursday after pulling a muscle, leaving Rijkaard with plenty of planning to do ahead of the weekend outing.

José Manuel Pinto, Oier Olazábal, Víctor Valdés, Albert Jorquera, Andrés Iniesta, Santi Ezquerro, Sylvinho, Lionel Messi, Éric Abidal and Gaby Milito all had to take a random UEFA drugs test before the training session began.

Whoever plays up front alongside Samuel Eto'o on Sunday, the Cameroonian striker will be hoping to end his run of games without scoring and put himself through a series of grueeling physical circuits to be ready.