Ronaldinho sweating on Real clash

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will likely have to do without Brazilian star Ronaldinho for Saturday's La Liga showdown at the Nou Camp against Real Madrid, the Catalan club reported on Thursday.

The Brazilian star has "a left thigh muscle strain" and is fighting to be fit for 'el clasico', the club announced.

"Following tests, no rupture has shown up regarding the muscle pain the player is feeling," the club added.

Barca, knocked off top spot by Seville, who beat them last weekend in Andalusia, are desperate to put that disappointment behind them as well as their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool.

Real, fourth in the table six points off the pace and five behind Barca, also have to lick their European wounds having also gone out on away goals - in their case to Bayern Munich.

If Ronaldinho cannot make it he will miss his first meeting with Real since the 2003-2004 season, his first with Barca.

Ever since, he has played a starring role with the club having won the title in the past two seasons - although Real did win the encounter between Spain's two biggest clubs at the Bernabeu earlier this term.