Guardiola hopes pinned on Henry to keep Barca's European defence alive
Monday November 23 2009
THIERRY HENRY was whistled by 40,000 disapproving Athletic Bilbao fans when he came on as a second-half substitute in Barcelona's 1-1 draw at San Mames on Saturday.
The bad smell clearly still lingers from his handball assist against Ireland last week. He will be back among friends tomorrow night at the Nou Camp, but they will want a Leo Messi-sized performance from him in the game that will decide their Champions League fate.
Messi will miss the visit of Jose Mourinho's Internazionale with a thigh strain that could also rule him out of El Clasico next Sunday.
So, just six days after his infamous handball, all eyes will be on Henry to lead a depleted Barcelona into the biggest game they have played since last season's Champions League final against Manchester United.
Messi signalled to the bench to be replaced 75 minutes into Barca's battle with Bilbao. His injury is a further headache for coach Pep Guardiola, who has Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure recovering from swine flu, Zlatan Ibrahimovic feeling his hamstring and Real Madrid looking down from on top of La Liga after beating Racing Santander 1-0 and the champions only drawing.
feared
Defeat against Inter will almost certainly end Barcelona's involvement in this season's Champions League.
However, there was some good news for Barca with confirmation that defender Rafael Marquez is not suffering from swine flu and could yet make tomorrow's tie. It was feared over the weekend that Marquez had become the third Barca player to contract the serious illness.
Dani Alves put the visitors ahead against Athletic Bilbao but 'La Catedral' erupted on 63 minutes when substitute Toquero equalised from Llorente's pass.
It was Barcelona's fifth draw of the season and there are signs that the draining heroics of last season are beginning to take their toll; too bad that Real Madrid and, firstly, Jose Mourinho's Inter are next up.
The 'Special One' disappeared down the tunnel two minutes before the final whistle of Inter's 3-1 win at Bologna satisfied with what he had seen.
The victory was marred off the pitch by racist insults directed by Bologna fans at Inter forward Marco Balotelli but on the pitch, courtesy of a Balotelli strike and goals from Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso, Inter strolled to victory -- all with Samuel Eto'o resting on the bench and only used in the second half.
Mourinho is keeping his powder dry, Guardiola is running out of ammunition. He needs a big Henry performance tomorrow night almost as much as the striker needs to go back to letting his feet do the talking.
- Pete Jenson
Irish Independent
