Published on: Feb 6, 2019 4:02 pm IST|Updated on: Aug 8, 2019 1:43 pm IST
Barcelona star, Lionel Messi is doubtful for Copa del Rey semi-final first leg clash against Real Madrid tonight. However, the Argentine has been named in Barcelona squad for the fixture. According to the team management, they will “wait until the last moment” to decide if he plays.
Messi returned to training on Tuesday after he suffered a thigh injury in Saturday’s La Liga tie against Valencia.
“It is true that sometimes we have had doubts with players and we have waited until the last moment. It’s the same with Messi,” said manager Ernesto Valverde.
Ter Stegen, N. Semedo, Piqué, I. Rakitic, Sergio, Coutinho, Arthur, Suárez, Messi, Malcom, Lenglet, Murillo, Jordi Alba, Boateng, S. Roberto, Aleñá, Vidal, Vermaelen and Iñaki Peña
OUT: Todibo and Samper are left out of the squad. O. Dembélé, Rafinha, Cillessen and Umtiti are injured.
SQUADFC Barcelona ? Real Madrid#CopaBarça #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/BAUCa0Xdi1— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 5, 2019
SQUADFC Barcelona ? Real Madrid#CopaBarça #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/BAUCa0Xdi1
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 5, 2019
Defender Jesus Vallejo is out with a muscular issue for Real Madrid. Apart from him, everyone is available for Madrid. Los Blancos have named a 21-man squad for the Barcelona fixture.
Navas, Courtois and Altube Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo and Reguilón Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Llorente, Asensio, Isco and Ceballos Mariano, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez and Vinicius Jr.
? Our squad for tonight's #RMClasico in the Copa del Rey! #RMCopa pic.twitter.com/caO1ad0aaO— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) February 6, 2019
? Our squad for tonight's #RMClasico in the Copa del Rey! #RMCopa pic.twitter.com/caO1ad0aaO
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) February 6, 2019
The last Copa del Rey meeting between two sides was the final in 2014. Angel Di Maria and Gareth Bale goals against Marc Bartra had scored once for each side, scored a spectacular winner five minutes from the end.
The two sides will face each other three times in space of 25 days, with the second leg on Wednesday, 27 February and a La Liga encounter on Saturday, 2 March.