Lionel Messi is expected to play at Malaga on Saturday after recovering from a slight muscle strain.
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Do you think Malaga have any chance against Barca on Saturday? .
Former Liverpool talisman Luis Suarez is predicting that Neymar who came 3rd in the 2015 Ballon D’or will soon take from Lionel Messi as the best footballer in the world. Barça could only benefit from having their full strength midfield of Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic. “We weren’t comfortable in the first half and they were well positioned and took advantage of our poor passes”.
Barcelona moved one point ahead of Atletico Madrid before it plays Sevilla on Sunday.
Barca will also have Luis Suarez back after he completed a two-game Cup ban in midweek as they look to exact revenge on the only side that stopped the European champions from scoring in their two meetings last season.
Espanyol and Villarreal shared the points after Mateo Musacchio’s late equalizer for the visitors.
Felipe Caicedo gifted the Catalans an early lead after being set up by Papa Kouly Diop, but Manuel Trigueros restored parity halfway through the first half.
Rayo and fellow strugglers Granada climbed out of the relegation places after Granada won 3-2 at home to Getafe.
“They have trained and we will see how (this evening’s) session goes”, he told a news conference.
Barcelona scored on its first attack when El Haddadi, who started for the injured Neymar, got his fourth goal in his last three starts.
The finish was exceptional, but what made the goal more spectacular was Messi’s well-timed run. Adriano left in the second half because of injury.
“We didn’t feel comfortable and Malaga were very well organised and made the most of it when we gave the ball away”, added the Spain global.
Charles headed just wide before Chory Castro’s effort was turned onto the post by Claudio Bravo. Thomas Vermaelan could start alongside Javier Mascherano as the two center-backs.
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Barcelona boss Luis Enrique says that he is “happy” with his team’s 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final.
