THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss the Club World Cup final against Estudiantes on Saturday because of a leg muscle injury similar to the one that left him on the sidelines for most of the off-season.
Results of medical scans performed on Iniesta’s left leg on Thursday confirmed the Spain international will be out for at least two weeks, meaning he will be absent until the resumption of Spanish league play after the winter break.
Iniesta injured his leg in Wednesday’s 3-1 semifinal victory over Mexican club Atlante.
Iniesta tore a muscle in the same area of his right leg last season. The 25-year-old Spaniard missed the Confederations Cup and the early part of this season to recover.
Estudiantes defender Leandro Desabat said Iniesta’s absence would only make a slight difference to Barcelona’s chances at the Zayed Sports City stadium on Saturday.
"He’s a great player. He brings a lot to the team," Desabat said. "They might feel it, but that doesn’t mean they just depend on that player. They have so many great players that it won’t make the biggest difference."
Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi has also just returned from an ankle injury, coming off the bench to score with his first touch Wednesday.
However, Desabat was more concerned about his likely assignment — marking striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"To see him on TV is one thing, compared to in person, and to see the way he moves is surprising," Desabat said. "I didn’t think he was so massive and controlled the ball so well."
Argentine side Estudiantes won the competition in 1968, when it was known as the Intercontinental Cup. Barcelona is looking for an unprecedented sixth major trophy in 2009 after triumphs in the Champions League, Spanish league, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup and European Supercup. It reached the final twice before, losing in 1992 and 2006.
Desabat said Estudiantes’ chance of victory will likely come down to seizing its few opportunities.
"We have a way of playing and we’re not going to change it," Desabat said. "There are few chances to play this kind of game, or to win it either. We’ll fight for it."