Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has suggested the league leaders have lost some of their fear-factor ahead of their El Clásico fixture against Real Madrid next weekend.
The 31-year-old suffered a fractured arm in the Catalonians’ 4-2 La Liga victory against Sevilla and physios at the club have indicated that the Argentina international will be out of action for roughly three weeks.
Club boss Valverde has commented on the news, expressing dismay over the absence of Barcelona’s superstar player.
“It is clear that it is a sensitive loss,” Valverde told reporters, according to Goal, before suggesting upcoming opponents will have one major concern fewer in light of Messi’s absence.
He added: “In the end, it is about who he is and we know what he gives us. We all know what the opponent thinks when they play Leo.”
“But we have to know that he will not be available and we have to face it. We will prepare for it but, of course, we are going to notice the loss of Messi.
“There have been games that Leo has not played in. He is fundamental and he marks a lot of the team’s game, but we will try to keep our idea and take a step forward.
“We will miss him, win or lose, but we want to miss him winning.”
READ MORE: Can you name every Barcelona and Real Madrid player from the last Clasico without Messi or Ronaldo?
Which games will Lionel Messi miss?
With Barcelona’s main man missing close to a month’s worth of action at this point in the season, there are a naturally a few games that Messi will have to watch from the sidelines.
Barcelona face Italian giants Inter Milan at the Camp Nou this Wednesday in their Champions League Group B match, with both sides currently possessing 100% records in the competition to date, having won both fixtures.
After facing Real Madrid this Sunday, once again on home soil, Barcelona then travel to play Segunda División B side Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey round of 32 fixture, a match the club would be expected to win, with or without Messi’s presence.
Trips to both Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on 3rd November and the Champions League return match against Inter three days later are followed by their home league clash against Real Betis, with Messi expected to return just after.
The post Barcelona will miss “fundamental” Lionel Messi v Real Madrid – Ernesto Valverde appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2PbvQvu
No comments:
Post a Comment