MADRID - Barcelona's Brazilian maestro Ronaldinho could miss out on Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Real Madrid striker at the Bernabeu with a stomach bug which forced him to miss training on Wednesday.
With Portugal international Deco suspended Barca were relying more than ever on Ronaldinho's magic as they seek to preserve a nine-point lead over their bitter rivals with just eight games to go.
The bout of gastroenteritis was the result of the player eating something which simply disagreed with him, Barca medical staff said, adding they expected the player had a good chance of being fit by the weekend, when he will look to ensure Brazil teammates Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos end up on the losing side.
Real are hoping that both Raul and England midfielder David Beckham will shrug off knocks to play in what is likely to prove the title decider.
Beckham trained Wednesday as normal but striker Raul sat out the session during which England striker Michael Owen bagged five goals in a mini-match.
04/06/2005 18:48 GMT