22 October 2007, by Lorna Danion

Deco out of crucial Portugal qualifiers

Injury completes miserable weekend for Barca playmaker

Deco is almost certain to miss Portugal’s crucial European Championship qualifying matches against Armenia and Finland next month after picking up a thigh injury in Barcelona’s defeat at Villarreal on Saturday.

The Brazilian-born playmaker has been ruled out for five weeks after an scan performed on Sunday morning confirmed a myotendinous injury in the middle abductor of his left leg.

Villarreal 3-1 Barcelona

The news was a further blow to Barca, who were torn apart by Villarreal in the first half at El Madrigal. Young winger Santi Cazorla put the home side ahead after just two minutes when he played a fantastic one-two with Guillermo Franco before firing in from a tight angle.

A little over ten minutes later and the hosts got a second when Eric Abidal brought Robert Pires down inside the area and Marcos Senna converted the resulting spot-kick.

Barca were given brief hope when 17-year-old striker Bojan Krkic became the youngest ever scorer for the first team when he received a pass from Lionel Messi and drove his finish in off the post in the 24th minute.

However, another rash challenge, this time from Gabriel Milito, handed Senna another chance from the penalty spot, with the Brazilian-born Spain international again proving up to the task and firing past Victor Valdes.

Barca enjoyed decent spells of possession in the second half but found clear goalscoring opportunities difficult to create. Deco, who was harshly booked earlier in the half, dragged an effort wide of the far post after being slipped in by Messi, as Villarreal in fact looked the more likely side to add to the scoring.

Deco’s evening came to an abrupt end twenty minutes from times when he went down unchallenged while in possession in midfield. Although the 30-year-old walked off the pitch, the former Porto man was in clear pain as he made way for Eidur Gudjohnsen.