Barca to field depleted side for last home game

Updated: May 10, 2008, 10:17 AM EST 8 comments

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MADRID, Spain (AP) - FC Barcelona will field a depleted team on Sunday when it faces Mallorca in coach Frank Rijkaard's final home game.

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Barcelona is missing six injured players - including Ronaldinho, Andres Iniesta and Gabi Milito - along with the suspended Xavi Hernandez and Rafael Marquez.

Rijkaard has been forced to call up two players from the club's reserve side - defender Rafael Romero and midfielder Jose Manuel Rueda - neither of whom has played in the first team.

Barcelona said Thursday that Rijkaard will be fired at the end of the season after five years in charge. His replacement will be reserve team coach Pep Guardiola.

Supporters are expected to use the game at the Camp Nou to vent their annoyance with the team and club president Joan Laporta, after Barcelona's failure to win a major trophy for the second straight season.

However, Rijkaard, who led the team to the Champions League and two league titles, is set to receive a fond farewell.

The Dutch coach's final game will be at Murcia next weekend.

The Catalan club, which lost 4-1 at Real Madrid on Wednesday, trail the recently proclaimed champion by 17 points in third place and is guaranteed its worst finish in five years.

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