Barcelona - Just like Formula One, the GP2 racing series will also have to make cuts in budgets and personnel this season due to the ongoing global financial crisis, GP2 boss Bruno Michel confirmed to German Press Agency dpa.

The GP2 series, which replaced Formula 3000 in 2005, is in its fifth year with 26 drivers taking part in this season's opening race in Barcelona on May 9.

"At least the teams have very good marketing policies in place," said Michel. "We find ourselves in a healthy position."

Barcelona - Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils have withdrawn with injuries from next week's Barcelona Open with injuries as the clay season countdown draws closer to the start of the French Open.

Monfils was barely a factor in Monte Carlo this week, losing in the first round to Janko Tipsarevic while complaining of pain in both knees from tendinitis.

The 2008 Australian Open finalist Tsonga has not played since the Miami quarter-finals at the start of the month against Novak Djokovic.

Madrid - Barcelona are keen to stay well on top of the Spanish Liga by winning away to modest Getafe on Saturday.

Barca are currently six points ahead of dogged pursuers Real Madrid, and will go to Getafe in good heart after Tuesday's creditable 1-1 draw away to Bayern Munich which put them in the European Champions League semi-finals.

Josep Guardiola's team picked up no injuries in Munich. They have a fully fit squad for the first time this season due to the return to fitness of Gabriel Milito, Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure.

Madrid - Barcelona are now nine points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga after a 2-0 home win over lowly Recreativo Huelva on Saturday. Barca now have 75 points from 30 games, nine points more than second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to midtable Valladolid on Sunday.

The Catalans have won their last five league games, without conceding a single goal.

Star of the show in the Camp Nou was little Andres Iniesta, who scored the first Barca goal and provoked the second one, an own goal from Huelva defender Nasief Morris.

Barcelona  - Barcelona have one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Bayern Munich 4-0 on Wednesday in a one-sided quarter-final first leg.

Barca turned in the performance of the European season to put brittle Bayern to the sword, thus confirming their candidacy for the continental crown.

Jurgen Klinsmann's side carried on from where they left off in Wolfsburg on Saturday, where they lost 5-1 - feeble in defence and swamped in midfield.