Messi named in Barcelona squad for El Clasico
Despite an apparent thigh injury, the Barcelona captain is in the squad to face Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi has been included in the Barcelona squad to face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Barca's captain had been a doubt for Wednesday's game at Camp Nou due to an apparent thigh injury sustained in their last game, a 2-2 draw at Valencia, in which Messi struck twice. But he trained on Tuesday and was subsequently named in Barca's 19-man squad to take on rivals Madrid, although coach Ernesto Valverde had earlier indicated in a news conference he would not risk Messi unless he was fully fit.
"We treat every player exactly the same, some players are declared fit at the last moment and we will react exactly the same to Leo Messi as with any other player in the squad," Valverde said.
"I like to take risks when you have a cushion to fall back on. If it was the last game of the league it would be a different question. But you wouldn't risk a player with an injury under any circumstances, Messi or anyone. Players with an injury are playing with the handbrake on."