Barcelona are wary about taking any risks with their star player and after he was substituted against Athletic on Sunday, he will miss the Copa del Rey quarter-final against the same side this week as a precaution.

 According to Sport, Lionel Messi didn’t train with the rest of his team-mates on Tuesday, preferring to remain indoors and work on the muscle pain which forced him off on Sunday.

 Lionel Messi will not play in the Copa del Rey first leg against Athletic Club at San Mames and is a doubt for the league game against Malaga. That’s what the medical tests on Monday have determined at the Creu Blanca Clinic. 

 Luis Suarez will also be missing due to suspension, meaning Neymar will be the main attacking threat in the side. Luis Enrique must look for solutions for how to fill the front line, with Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal both among the options.