Messi May Sit On The Bench Against Atletico Madrid

Leaders Barcelona have yet to decide if Lionel Messi will play from the start in Saturday’s top of the table La Liga clash at Atletico Madrid.
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The brilliant Argentine forward made an instant impact when he came on for the last 30 minutes of the midweek King’s Cup tie against Getafe after being out for almost two months with a hamstring injury.
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Messi grabbed two goals in the 4-0 win but coach Gerardo Martino is not sure if second-placed Atletico will represent too tough a 90-minute test.
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“He looks fine and had a phenomenal 30 minutes in the Cup but he returned after a long time out and the question is whether he is now ready to play a full game at this level,” Martino told reporters on Friday.
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“We will make a decision tomorrow. It’s not really a case of asking a player how he feels as they will usually say ‘fine’.
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“I have to go by my sensations and look at different aspects to make a decision which people will judge me on. I am the Barcelona coach and pick my XI and then afterwards a decision will be made on how well I do,” added Martino.
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The coach said he might have been prepared to risk Messi if the Atletico game was later in the season.
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“With injuries I usually think about the player first and then about the opposition,” he said.
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“We are not at a decisive moment like in April…we are in January and the priority at the moment is the players and not the result.”