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Barça hopeful on Messi’s fitness for Bayern clash

Barcelona assistant manager Jordi Roura has said he is hopeful Lionel Messi will be fully fit for the first-leg of his side's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich in 10 days time.

Barça hopeful on Messi's fitness for Bayern clash
Bareclona's Lionel Messi watches the Champions League quarter-final from the bench. Photo: LLuis Gene/AFP

The World Player of the Year was forced into action on Wednesday night against Paris Saint-Germain, despite carrying a hamstring injury, to help his side into the last four for the sixth consecutive season.

Messi has been left out of the squad for Sunday's league match away at Real Zaragoza to allow him to recuperate, but Roura is hopeful he will return to face the German champions.

"We will see how Messi's injury evolves," he told a press conference on Saturday.

"Fortunately, the injury has not worsened. We hope that between now and the 23rd he can get back to full condition."

Sergio Busquets will also miss the trip to Zaragoza due to a pelvic problem, whilst Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba have been left out to give them a rest.

And their absence provoked Roura to join the increasing band of club coaches to criticise the impact that participation in international fixtures has had on his players.

"The calendar has been terrible. On top of all the competitions, we have had many internationals for Spain. Moreover, unfortunately, we have had a lot of injuries. If you combine all of this, it is true that we are a little squeezed."

"But the squad is big, despite all the difficulties we have overcome it and look where we are; first in the league and in the semis of the Champions League."

Despite missing a number of key players though, Roura is determined for Barca to consolidate their 13-point lead at the top of the table this weekend.

"It is true that we are coming from a difficult game in Champions League and with a lot of players out, but the squad has shown it has a great level. Zaragoza are in a difficult situation and therefore it will be a very difficult game."

"They are playing for a lot and the game will be at six o'clock when it will still be warm and the pitch might not be great. All these things will make it more difficult."

Finally, Roura also gave his thoughts on drawing four-times European champions Bayern in the Champions League semi-finals.

"All the opponents that we could have faced were difficult. I think the two best teams in Europe over the past few years are facing each other. We have both got to two finals in recent times and I am not going to discover Bayern, we have already seen how the beat Juventuss. They are very strong."

"In the majority of ties, Barcelona are used to being favourites. This time it might not be the case. This is conditioned by the previous game. Bayern won with ease and we
suffered against PSG."

"I think it will be a well-balanced tie that will be decided by fine details."

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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