Barcelona will give Lionel Messi every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of their second-leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night. Messi was taken off at half-time during last week’s 1-1 draw in the first-leg with a thigh injury and missed the Catalans’ 1-0 win away to Malaga on Sunday which moved them back to the top of La Liga.
However, the Argentine took a full part in training on Monday with those who hadn’t been involved in the Malaga game as the majority of his colleagues underwent a recovery session. ‘We have two days to make a decision, but with the information that I have today we are very happy with how he is recovering,’ Barca boss Gerardo Martino said.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone believes their record of winning three trophies in little over a year shows they have what it takes to go the Camp Nou and lift the club’s first Super Cup since 1985. ‘The tie is still alive and we now have a big game at their place,’ he said. Simeone is expected to name the same side that started in the first-leg with David Villa and Diego Costa to feature.