Messi also missed training on Thursday due to personal reasons and was seen heavily stretching his hamstring towards the end of a depleted Barca side’s 1-1 against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, but is expected to be fit to start.
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The team selection was understandable as Barcelona have a busy spell coming up and the Catalans play their Club World Cup semi-final in Japan on December 17.
Victor Sanchez: “It is one of the most hard games of the season”.
“We are used to that, but little-by-little we are improving, the team is better and more confident. That’s ideal to play against Barcelona”, he said.
However, despite the Italians being held to a goalless draw, the Bundesliga side could not conjure up a victor, despite having plenty of chances in the second half. “It’s good for what’s still to come this season”, he told BeIn Sports. It was not just clear-cut chances where Roma were wasteful.
With nothing to play for, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique did not even bring Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique to Germany. Defender Jeremy Mathieu with a thigh injury and midfielder Sergi Roberto (ankle) are both doubtful to feature. Douglas (foot) and Rafinha (knee) are Barca’s only other long-term absentees.
Deportivo: Injured – Borges, Fabricio, Jonas Gutierrez, Luis Alberto, Oriol Riera; Suspended – Mosquera; Doubtful – Fede Cartabia.
Barcelona will go all out for victory in their final Champions League game in Group E – but not because it might help coach Luis Enrique’s former club, he said on Tuesday.
– The last side to stop Barcelona winning at the Camp Nou in La Liga was Deportivo in the last game last season (2-2).
Barca, who are two points ahead of Atletico Madrid at the League summit, next host Deportivo on Saturday.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen was kept busy in the Barca goal, but Leverkusen failed to fashion a second goal, and finished third with six points behind Roma on head-to-head record.
As well as making absolutely certain that the Blaugrana would become European champions for the fifth time, the strike enabled the attacker to reach the ten-goal mark in the continental tournament, joining fellow Ballon d’Or finalists Messi and Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts.
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Chelsea scored through an own goal by Ivan Marcano in the 12th and Willian sealed the deal in the 52nd.
