Excellent news this morning as Gabi Milito played his first friendly game since getting injured in the Champions League semi-final with Manchester United on April 29 2008. Milito played the first 45 minutes of a friendly game against Bolivian team Bolivar at Barça's training ground in Sant Joan Despí which Barça won 4-1. I have to admit I was beginning to think that Milito would never make it back but today's news  is very encouraging. Given the length and the complications of Milito's injury it is unlikely that he will be back in the first team for a few weeks, but if all goes well he will be an excellent addition to strengthen the squad in the new year.

The international break has taken its toll on Barça and the worst affected has been Thierry Henry who will be out for approximately ten days after picking up a thigh injury in his right leg in France's game against Austria. This means Henry will miss tomorrow's game at Valencia and the Champions League game at home to Rubin Kazan on Tuesday while he will be doubtful for next Sunday's match with Zaragoza. Better news for Xavi, Iniesta and Ibrahimovic who should all be ok for tomorrow's game despite suffering various knocks in their international games.

Tests today have confirmed that our Ukranian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy will be out of action for three weeks with a strained ligament in the left knee. Due to the international break coming up Chygrynskiy who is cup tied for the Champions League will miss only the home game with Almeria and possibly the trip to Valencia on the weekend of 17/18th October. Our other injured player from yesterday's game, Thierry Henry has a thigh strain and is doubtful for Tuesday's game with Dinamo Kiev but could be back in time for Saturday's game with Almeria.

Bad news today for Bojan Krkic as he has been left out of Spain's Under-20s squad for the World Cup which will take place in Egypt from September 24 to October 16. Bojan underwent tests today to see how he was recovering from the injury to his left thigh which he picked up at the end of the first league game of the season against Sporting Gijon at the end of August. At first it was thought that the injury would see Bojan out for two to three weeks, but the results of the tests today showed he has not yet recovered and will therefore not be able to play in the tournament.

There are still eight days to go before the Champions League Final with Manchester United but the signs are positive that two of our most important players, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta, will be fit in time to play from the beginning. According to a report in today's El Sport both players are proceeding well with their recoveries and the medical services have indicated to Pep Guardiola that they will both be ready in time. This is indeed excellent news, we will just have to work out...

Andres Iniesta is confident that the injury to his quadriceps muscle in his right thigh will not keep him out of the Uefa Champions League Final against Manchester United on May 27 in Rome. Iniesta, who is 25 today, underwent tests this morning that revealed that the tear in his right thigh is small. In February Iniesta suffered a similar injury which kept him out of action for two weeks, while in November he suffered a more serious tear in his right thigh which left him on the sidelines for two months. Saint Andres of Stamford Bridge is vital to our plans to beat United, let's hope that both he and Thierry Henry make it in time.

Football Club Barcelona will have to wait another week to be crowned champions of La Liga. With the fireworks and cava prepared for the celebrations, Joseba Llorente equalized for Villarreal in the 92nd minute to spoil the party which had seemed certain with just 13 minutes to go when Barça were leading 3-1, but then Eric Abidal gave away a penalty and was sent off which gave Villarreal the chance for their comeback. However, the worst news from today is that Andres Iniesta ended the game with a torn muscle and he will have to wait until tomorrow to find out the seriousness of the injury, and for now we will have to pray he is ok for the Champions League final on May...

Rafa Marquez will be out for eight to ten weeks with the injury to his left knee sustained in yesterday's Champions League game with Chelsea. We all knew it was a nasty injury as soon as the player went down, today the club have confirmed that Marquez has ruptured the internal and external meniscus. For those of you who know nothing of anatomy that is basically translated as a fucked knee, but at least there was no ligament damage which would be translated as a severely fucked knee (like Gabi Milito's).

Marquez will be operated on by club doctors Ramon Cugat and...

Well, yes. There is no proper football for two weeks and I'm left here twiddling my thumbs. The only news is the confirmation of Toure and Iniesta's injuries, but seeing as they are both said to be out for two weeks it is quite possible that they don't miss any games. Anyway, while there is not much going on El Mundo Deportivo have published a poll to vote on Messi's best ever goal. While it seems pretty obvious that the Goal against Getafe two years ago is by far the best it was fun to watch the ten goals. Follow this LINK to enjoy the ten goals. I also think they have missed out some of his better goals. What about...

Tests today have confirmed that captain Carles Puyol has a strained ligament in his left ankle. The time of recovery is thought to be three weeks. Fortunately he should only miss three games in that time, the Champions League second leg with Lyon, and the league games away at Almeria and at home to Malaga. With Eric Abidal out and Gabi Milito not yet ready to return we are going to be a bit stretched at the back and will have to pray that nobody else gets hurt soon.