MADRID, April 8: Ronaldinho has been left out of Barcelona's squad to play Racing Santander in the Primera Liga on Sunday to give him time to recover from a bruised right leg. “He has just played two very important games and he suffered a knock in the last one. He needs time to recover properly,” coach Frank Rijkaard told a news conference on Saturday.

The Brazilian playmaker has missed the last two training sessions. Barcelona are 11 points clear at the top of the table with seven games left.

Defender Oleguer was rested while Argentine winger Lionel Messi, who has just returned to training after a month out with a torn muscle, was also left out.

Referring to Messi, Rijkaard added: “We don't want to risk him yet. He needs to be in top condition to return to the side.”--Reuters