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Argentina was unable to participate in the Copa Clasico on Wednesday, but his coach thought he had a chance to qualify this weekend.
Lionel Messi could face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday when he felt in top form, said Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde.
The Argentine star was fit enough to appear as a substitute in the second half of the Copa del Rey 1-1 draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday, after suffering a thigh injury.
Valverde still fears taking unnecessary risks, especially with a first-leg match of the last match at 16 in the Champions League against Lyon on 19 February, but he hopes to have Messi.
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"As always, we have to wait to make a decision," he said at a press conference Saturday. "We did not want to take chances the other day and we find ourselves in a similar situation [on Sunday].
"He's fine, but he was 100%, as he was at other times he would play." "He was fine, he would play and if not, we'll have to take a decision."
The Barca will travel to San Mames without midfielder Arthur, who should miss next month because of a thigh injury.
Valverde: "It will be a good match, but visiting San Mamés is always complicated, it's one of the most difficult games of the season" # AthleticBarça pic.twitter.com/C73Se3MkO9
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 9, 2019
However, Valverde thinks he has good options for the central midfielder, including Philippe Coutinho, whose form has recently been the subject of extensive scrutiny.
"[With Arthur] we lose a player who gives us control of the match, but injuries always happen like that, "he said. We have alternatives. We have [Carles] Alena, who is more attacking; Arturo [Vidal] has an edge of attack, but less control. It depends on the game
"Coutinho is a possibility in terms of decision of the match."
Valverde hopes that Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembele will be in great shape soon. The defender missed great distances due to injury.
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Messi and Dembele have both been included in the Barca team to travel to the Basque Country, while Umtiti remains an absent.
[? CONVOCATORIA]⚽ # AthleticBarça
?? # ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/cL2ISYUwcG– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) February 9, 2019
"Umtiti did the first part of the training yesterday and we want him to do more," he said. "Dembele's injury is not as long – we will evaluate today whether he is doing well or not."
Valverde was again asked to comment on his future, speculating that he would leave at the end of the season, but he simply said, "When I have an answer, I give it to you."
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