Lionel Messi injured: Barcelona star could be ready for Clasico against Real Madrid

There can only be a few disturbing sites for Barcelona fans. Seeing Lionel Messi wounded in the field and receiving treatment, after four days of clash between Clasico and Real Madrid, caused tension and anxiety at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Messi had pulled the Barca out of a hole by scoring both goals to bring the La Liga leaders from 2-0 to 2-2 against Valencia, but he spent two minutes on the sidelines in the second half. personal as he held his thigh.

However, he quickly returned to the pitch and ended the match when his coach Ernesto Valverde sent Malcom to Philippe Coutinho in the final minutes and left the Argentinian.

Maybe the accumulation of fixtures took his tool. Messi gave everything to help Barca come back after a 2-0 first-leg deficit in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night, and to neutralize Sevilla with a memorable 6-1 win at Camp Nou.

Argentina continued to run in the 89th minute to help fifth in Barca and 92nd to score sixth. And after he said, "People said we wanted to throw the Copa. But we are fighting for all three competitions. Barca go for everything. "

Of course, Messi has already won two triples with Barca and it is understandable that his teammates want to win everything again. But the success of the Copa del Rey in recent seasons has come at a cost, with the team looking tired when it matters most to the Champions League.

Barça are confident that Messi will be ready for the first leg in Wednesday's semifinal against Real Madrid at Camp Nou. After the match, Valverde did not seem too worried.

"I do not know exactly what he has," Barca's boss said at his press conference after the match. "We will have to wait to see what the medical staff is saying. If he is in shape, he will play on Wednesday. "

But should he? The Barca played very well against Real when the Argentinian was out and he had the home advantage in the first leg. He should be able to count on a positive result, even if he is absent (as he was during the 5-1 defeat of Julen Lopetegui in October). side).

Even if the 31-year-old misses the first leg, he could still come back for the second match at the Santiago Bernabeu, which will take place at the end of February. If in doubt about his physical condition, there is absolutely no need to risk it.

This month also marks the return of the Champions League, Barca being opposed to Lyon on February 19th, before two clashes of Clasico (in Copa and Liga) on February 27th and March 2nd, before the return match against the French 13

These matches, as well as the trip to Seville en Liga on February 24, should be given priority. Wednesday's Clasico is huge, of course, as is the famous match. But this time, it might be better to look at the bigger picture and keep Messi in reserve.