Barcelona train without Lionel Messi ahead of Spanish Super Cup final

Barcelona were back in training on Friday but were once again without captain Lionel Messi as they began preparations for Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic.

Messi remains a doubt for the game after missing the semi-final win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday due to a minor leg injury.

Barca confirmed the players had a light session on Friday with those players who started the game against La Real doing “post-match recovery work,” while the rest “played a training match against a mixture of Barça B and U19A players.”

Yet Messi did not join the group at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and continued to do recovery work alone, according to multiple reports.

The whole Barcelona squad is due to travel to Seville on Saturday with the players set to have one last training session at La Cartuja stadium in the evening.

Ronald Koeman will then announce his 20-man squad for the match after the session.