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BARCELONA

Luis Enrique: “Leo Messi is fit to play tomorrow”

The Barcelona coach told the press that the Argentine is available but was not clear on whether he would start or be rested ahead of the Champions League opener against Celtic in midweek.

Update:
Messi podría estar disponible para el partido contra el Alavés.
Ian KingtonAFP

Luis Enrique was unequivocal when asked whether Leo Messi was fit to line up against Alavés tomorrow evening.

Messi is fit to play on Saturday

“Yes,” he replied when asked by the press if the Argentine had recovered from the niggle he picked up against Athletic Bilbao two weekends ago. What the Barcelona coach didn’t clarify, however, was whether Messi would be named in the starting XI, start on the bench or even be rested ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Celtic. The squad will be named tomorrow morning at 9.30 CEST.

Messi is back in training this week after returning from international duty in Argentina.
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Messi is back in training this week after returning from international duty in Argentina.AP

Unclear whether Messi will start

Luis Enrique reiterated that Messi is returning from injury and that the club is monitoring his condition closely but admitted that the club has “a lot of commitments throughout the season,” perhaps suggesting that he wouldn’t be included in the starting XI. What he did make clear, however, is that inside the dressing room there are no doubts over his fitness: “I spoke with him like I speak with all my players and we know how he’s doing.”

Barcelona sit joint top, Alavés in thirteenth

Barcelona face newly-promoted Alavés at the Camp Nou on Saturday at 20.30 CEST. The Basque side sit 13th with two points from two games while Luis Enrique’s Barcelona are joint top having recorded two wins from two.