Madrid - Barcelona playmaker Xavi Hernandez is the latest victim of the "FIFA Virus."This is the name given to the injuries sustained by top players whilst playing for their national teams, a massive problem this autumn for almost all Liga clubs.
Xavi - voted best player at Euro 2008 - will probably miss Barca's Sunday match away to Athletic Bilbao, after pulling a muscle in his right calf in Spain's 2-1 win away to Belgium on Wednesday.
Barca are already without Pedro Rodriguez (injured playing for the Spain Under-21 team), Yaya Toure (cartilage problems after an Ivory Coast match) and Eidur Gudjohnsen (back from Iceland duty with a torn muscle).
In addition, Lionel Messi has returned battered and bruised from Argentina duty, whilst Andres Iniesta - scorer of an exquisite goal against Belgium - is also looking weary and doubtful.
According to sports daily AS on Saturday, Barca coach Josep Guardiola is considering bringing in midfielder Alexander Hleb - even though he is just coming out of a long injury layoff - and giving teenager Bojan Krkic his first start of the season.
Barca are fourth with 13 points from six games, Bilbao are sixth from bottom with just five points.
