Barcelona: Messi returns to training
Having missed the Clásico due to a fractured arm, Lionel Messi has returned to training for Barcelona.
Lionel Messi has returned to training for Barcelona, 11 days after suffering a fractured arm.
Missed Clásico after suffering injury in Sevilla win
Messi sustained the injury in Barcelona's 4-2 win over Sevilla, in which he scored their second goal, on 20 October.
He was reduced to the role of spectator for the Clásico with Real Madrid on Sunday as a result, but Barça thumped their arch rivals without him as Luis Suárez scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win.
The Argentina international was not expected to return for another two weeks but it appears he could be back in the side at an earlier date after Barça posted a picture of a smiling Messi in training on their Twitter account.
Barça take on Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday before LaLiga games with Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis either side of a Champions League trip to Inter.
Blaugrana top of the pile after 10 LaLiga games
Ernesto Valverde's side are top of LaLiga after 10 games, seven points clear of ninth-placed Madrid, who sacked coach Julen Lopetegui after the Clásico rout.
Barça's advantage at the summit is slim, however, with Deportivo Alavés only a point adrift and Sevilla and Atlético Madrid just two points back.