Madrid, Spain-a hit in the leg has Lionel Messi in doubt for the first of three matches that will play Barcelona and Real Madrid in less than a month, starting with the Wednesday by the semi-finals of the cup of the Rey.Messi not trained with teammates on Monday, after receiving a heavy blow on Sunday in the right thigh in a Spanish League match where he scored two goals that Barcelona went up a disadvantage of two goals and tied 2-2 with Valencia.
Barcelona gave no details of the injury. Coach Ernesto Valverde said that the player was “well”, but added they were going to do tests to find out if it will be available Wednesday to duel in the Camp Nou.Messi scored in the last nine games of Barcelona in all competitions and leads the table of cañoneros of the League with so many in 22 meetings 21.
Lionel Messi returning to field in the match against Valencia after receiving care medical / AFP the blaugrana team, however, showed that he can beat Real Madrid without Messi: Argentine was not by an arm injury in the last duel between the two , in October, and Barcelona won 5-1. absence of Messi, in any case, it could be unwelcome since Luis Suárez and Ousmane Dembélé are not in top physical form and Barcelona does not have too many alternatives in the attack. Barcelona seeks his fifth Cup followed, which would be an unprecedented achievement, while Real Madrid seeks to win it for the first time since the 2014 and give a satisfaction in a year that has been at the bumps.
The 2014 Cup won it after defeat to Barcelona in the final. For Barcelona, the clash with the team meringue mark the start of an intense period, including a match on Saturday with Atletico Madrid, his escort at the top of the League, six points. A defeat would not only leave Atletico to three units, but it would allow Real Madrid continue approaching. The white set took the blaugrana with Valencia tie to register eight units thanks to a victory over Alaves 3-0.
Lionel Messi celebrating one of his two touchdowns before the Valencia in LaLiga/AFP Real Madrid, for its part, faces the coming week a hard match with Ajax for the second round of the Champions League, in which he seeks his fourth title followed without Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in nearly a decade. The return of the King’s Cup match will take place on February 27 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and both teams will measure three days later, on the same stage, in a duel that could decide the League.” The Madrid does not give never. We will fight for it until the end”, said technical merengue Santiago Solari. “Hopefully it will be up to the end of the calendar. It will mean that we have chances to win.”
Solari took the reins of the Madrid shortly after the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui after the debacle against Barcelona.
“In the League came something worse, now the Madrid is better and it will be difficult”, said Valverde.
Barcelona saw interrupted a streak of eight consecutive wins tie with Valencia on Saturday.
Lionel Messi celebrating an annotation with the Barcelona/AFP the Catalans will be without goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, substitute of Ter Stegen that disputed the Copa matches and that was vital in the quarterfinals, to tackle a penalty against Sevilla. The Dutchman injured his leg. After receiving the Madrid, Barcelona has a couple of theoretically easy matches in the League, and on 19 February will encounter with Lyon in the Champions League.
He then played with Sevilla, which is fourth in the League and who won the duel of ida in the quarter-finals of the Cup. Then come other two commitments with Real Madrid.” We have front a few weeks the truth very interesting”, said Barcelona Ivan Rakitic flywheel.
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