Balotelli, Abbiati unlikely for Barcelona game

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani confirmed that striker Mario Balotelli and Christian Abbiati could probably miss the Champions League game against Barcelona due to injuries.

Balotelli, who returned from international duty with a thigh problem, will reportedly be sidelined for three weeks, while Abbiati has a calf strain, reports Xinhua.

"From what our staff told us, it will be very difficult for Balotelli and Abbiati to recover in time for Barcelona on Tuesday," Galliani said Saturday, dismissing allegations that over-training has led to widespread muscular problems in the Milan side.

"It is not true that we have multiple muscular injuries, as some people said. Only Balotelli and Abbiati's are muscular but most others were fractures and knee operations."

The official reiterated that Massimiliano Allegri is safe as the head coach and suggested the team needed to improve.

"Allegri's bench is absolutely solid. Admittedly, 13 goals conceded are a great deal. We need to be more attentive in defence. I don't know whether the problem is tactical, but most of the time I tend to see distractions," he said.