Football: Villa out; Thiago, Adriano to return

BARCELONA: Striker David Villa has an ankle problem and will miss Barcelona’s trip to Levante in La Liga today, but Thiago Alcantara and Adriano Correia both return to the squad after injury, the club said on Saturday. Spain striker Villa has netted six goals in 15 appearances this season since returning from a broken leg suffered almost 12 months ago, but has been struggling to get a regular starting place in the side. “Villa had problems in Moscow (against Spartak), his ankle didn’t like the artificial pitch but it is nothing serious,” Barca coach Tito Vilanova told a news conference. “We preferred him to rest.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2012.