FC Barcelona News

Lionel Messi has been given the medical all-clear. Frank Rijkaard is free to pick the Argentinian for next Sunday’s game with Racing Santander at the Camp Nou.

Messi was injured last November 12 in Barça’s league game at the Camp Nou against Zaragoza. In the training match played on Wednesday at the Miniestadi, he showed that he is almost back to full fitness, playing so well he was one of the outstanding figures in the game, along with Eto’o and young Bojan.

Recovery stage in Argentina

The Argentinian forward has been following a meticulously planned recovery programme arranged mainly by the prestigious Doctor Dalmau, who performed surgery on the player, along with the rest of the Club Medical Services. Messi was released from hospital on November 17 and began his rehabilitation in Barcelona before returning to his home country. He was then able to spend the last weeks of recuperation with his family.

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At the Nou Camp back in September Barcelona beat Osasuna 3-0, but with Ronaldinho playing far below his peak and Messi still out of the picture it remains to be seen whether Barça can get as good a result on Sunday night in Pamplona.

However, Samuel Eto’o is back in training with the squad and is widely expected to make his return, although Frank Rijkaard will probably choose to play it safe and not play him for the entire match.

Barcelona remain in top position in the league with 42 points, just 1 ahead of Sevilla and 4 points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid. However, Sevilla are playing Real Sociedad who have won just 2 matches this season, meaning at least one point almost guaranteed for Sevilla - Barça need to win this match to ensure their lead and once its star players are back in action and at peak performance that lead needs to be extended.

Osasuna-FC Barcelona
Date: Sunday 4th February
Time: 21:00