La Liga - Henry to miss Benidorm Copa tie

Eurosport - Tue, 28 Oct 17:00:00 2008

Thierry Henry will miss Barcelona's Copa del Rey match at Benidorm on Tuesday because of a stomach upset.

FOOTBALL Thierry Henry Barcelona Barça - 0

The French striker has to rest for 24 hours and will be replaced in the squad for the last-32, first-leg tie by defender Carles Puyol.

Teenage striker Bojan Krkic will return to familiar territory for the encounter.

The 18-year-old, who struck twice in the 5-0 Champions League rout of Basel last week, scored against the Segunda B (third tier) side on his debut for Barcelona's second-string team in the 2006-07 season.

Barca B lost the match, but with coach Pep Guardiola resting key players for Tuesday's clash, including Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Bojan should get his chance for revenge.

"It was a very memorable match, because it was my first in the B side," Bojan told Barca's official website.

"Being able to play for the first team against them now in the Copa del Rey is special for me."

In Wednesday's ties, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Portugalete of the Tercera division (fourth tier), play Copa holders and Liga leaders Valencia.

Last season, Valencia beat Getafe 3-1 in the final to claim their seventh Copa del Rey.

The arrival of the top-flight clubs in the tournament also sees third-tier Real Union play league champions and 17-times winners Real Madrid on Thursday.

There are four all-Liga ties, including Getafe, runners-up over the last two years, playing Osasuna on Wednesday and Athletic Bilbao facing 2003 finalists Recreativo on Thursday. The return matches are scheduled for November 12.

Reuters

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