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FC Barcelona’s medical staff in consultation with their counterparts at the Argentine Football Federation confirm that the tests carried out on Leo Messi whilst on international duty with the Argentine national side in Washington D.C. show that he has no injury to his right foot where he received a blow in his last league match with the blaugranes against Real Madrid.
Following a lively weekend in La Liga, the situation at the top of the table is as follows: Barça (68) are four points clear at the top, followed by Real Madrid (64). Valencia (60) have moved up to third, ahead of current champions Atlético Madrid (59). Sevilla are still hanging on in there with 55 points but it does look like the championship race is going to be fought by the top four teams. Here’s a look at the ten games each of them has left to play:
The Clásico now over, it’s going to be a quiet week at FC Barcelona with most of the first team squad away on international duty. No fewer than thirteen players have left for official and friendly matches around the world.
The Barça squad gathered for the first post-Clásico training session at the Ciutat Esportiva on Tuesday morning, but with so many players off on international duty, there were only seven first team members present on pitch 2 in Sant Joan Despí: Xavi, Luis Suárez, Douglas, Sergi Roberto, Adriano, Mathieu, Masip. They were joined by reserve team goalkeeper Ortolà. In the meantime, Martín Montoya and Dani Alves did specific exercises.
A visit to a group of youngsters involved in the ‘FutbolNet’ project has meant a return to the city of Barcelona for Anderson Da Souza ‘Deco’. The former blaugrana gave his views on the current Barça side. "Messi is the player who makes the difference", said the Brazilian about one of his best friends from the squad. Deco went on to praise other blaugranes with whom he shared a dressing room during his time at Camp Nou as well as having kind words for the other members of the front three and coach Luis Enrique.
Luis Suarez left the field a loser last October in his first ever Clasico but on Sunday night he walked off the pitch a man who had put the league title within touching distance of his team – some way to mark your first ever home game against Real Madrid. ‘That’s why we paid a lot of money for him, he compliments what we already have,’ said Luis Enrique of a performance and a goal that meant even though Real Madrid had successfully subdued Lionel Messi they still lost the game
Di Maria has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League since his summer arrival from Real Madrid, with recent reports already linking the 27-year-old winger with an Old Trafford exit. The Argentine is understood to be unsettled in England after an attempted burglary on his home in January. And according Spanish news outlet Fichajes, European heavyweights Barca and PSG are prepared to offer him a way out at the end of the season.
Coach Diego Simeone has signed a contract extension with Atletico Madrid that will keep him at the Spanish champions until 2020. Simeone, 44, has led Atletico to a host of trophies since becoming coach in 2011, including last season's La Liga title and the 2012 Europa League crown.
Speaking to German TV station, ZDF, Löw conceded that working in Spain is his preferred move once the 2018 World Cup is out of the way, and reasoned that it is a league where he feels he would be an excellent fit. "After the Russia 2018 World Cup, I’d like to coach in Spain," he told ZDF. "It’s a league that shares my philosophy on the game; offensively and technically, that’s why I see it as an interesting domestic competition."
