FC Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta doubtful for La Liga derby vs Espanyol

FC Barcelona is tied for the La Liga lead with Real Madrid C.F., who have a game in hand. Madrid host Valencia on Saturday while Barca play Espanyol.

FC Barcelona has Neymar back from suspension but captain Andres Iniesta is in doubt for the local derby against Espanyol this weekend in the Spanish La Liga.

Andres Iniesta, who played for FC Barcelona in the El Clasico win against Real Madrid C.F. last week, is bothered by a right leg muscle injury. (AP)

Iniesta is bothered by a right leg muscle injury and did not practice on Friday. He was rested in FC Barcelona’s 7-1 win over Osasuna on Wednesday, three days after he played from the start in the 3-2 win in the Clasico against Real Madrid C.F..

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said he will wait as long as possible to see if the midfielder will be available.

If Iniesta can’t play, his likely replacement will be Andre Gomes, who scored twice against Osasuna.

Iniesta has not been a regular starter as in previous seasons. Also, the Spain midfielder missed five games at the beginning of the season because of a left leg muscle injury.

Neymar is welcomed back after missing the last three games because of a red card in the 2-0 loss at Malaga on April 8. He served one match for the automatic suspension and two more for sarcastically applauding an assist referee after being sent off.

“He is ready to play,” Luis Enrique said of Neymar. “He will be vital for us.”

Barcelona is tied for the league lead with Real Madrid, which has a game in hand. Madrid hosts Valencia on Saturday.

Madrid, which relinquished the league lead on head-to-head tiebreaker when it lost the clasico at home, returns to Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to play a Valencia team that has lost two matches in a row and hasn’t won in three rounds.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane did not say whether he will rest some starters for the Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid next week. Cristiano Ronaldo and some other players didn’t play on Wednesday in the 6-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna.