Tests conducted today on Leo Messi have confirmed that they player is still having trouble with the adductor muscle in his left hamstring. He has been recommended to lighten his training load over the next few days and his availability will depend on how the issue progresses.

Messi has played all 90 minutes of every competitive first team fixture to date this season – both legs of the Spanish Super Cup and the league games with Betis and Athletic Bilbao, scoring three goals.

After the game at San Mamés, the Barça striker travelled to Argentina for a World Cup qualifier at home to Luis Suárez’s Uruguay. He played all ninety minutes of that game too, scoring the only goal of a 1-0 win.