Messi fitness key to Barca's comeback hopes

MADRID (AFP) –

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben (L) and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action. Barcelona admit any chance the Catalans have of overturning a 4-0 first-leg defeat to Bayern in their Champions League semi-final return on Wednesday depends very much on the fitness of Messi.

Barcelona admit any chance the Catalans have of overturning a 4-0 first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final return on Wednesday depends very much on the fitness of Lionel Messi.

The World Player of the Year looked out of sorts in Munich last week as an energetic display from the hosts tore Barca to pieces, but Messi did come off the bench to score a wonderful individual goal and set-up a second for Alexis Sanchez in Barca’s 2-2 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

And Barcelona assistant manager Jordi Roura believes Messi has started to find his feet again after being troubled by a hamstring injury for the past month.

“Messi is the best player in the world and obviously when you don’t have him you notice it. He makes the difference,” he told a press conference after the Athletic game.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (2ndR) during a training session on April 30, 2013, the eve of the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich. The World Player of the Year looked out of sorts in Munich last week as an energetic display from the hosts tore Barca to pieces.

“He will continue with his recuperation after the injury. He was very good today and we hope that little by little he arrives at his best level. He will continue improving and the better Leo is the more chances we will have against Bayern.”

Despite Messi not being at 100%, Barca’s principal problem in the first-leg was their defending and manager Tito Vilanova has even more problems at the back with Jordi Alba suspended for Wednesday’s clash.

Adriano does return from suspension and is expected to replace Alba, however the biggest doubt remains who will partner Gerard Pique in central defence.

Javier Mascherano returned to light training on Monday well ahead of the schedule planned for him after suffering a lateral knee ligament injury against Paris Saint-Germain on April 2 and he could be thrown straight back into the side, although Vilanova also has the option of using either Eric Abidal or Alex Song.

Bayern by contrast will be able to welcome back striker Mario Mandzukic after he too missed the first leg through suspension.

And despite their comfortable lead, manager Jupp Heynckes has said he won’t rest any of his six first-team regulars that could miss the final should they be booked at the Camp Nou.

Captain Philip Lahm, Dante, Javi Martinez, Luis Gustavo, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gomez are all just one booking away from missing the showcase at Wembley should Bayern seal their passage into the final next month.

“I won’t be making any concessions,” Heynckes told the club’s website.

“I’ll select my best available team. The players will have to show great discipline, which means: no gestures, no unnecessary fouls, and they mustn’t let themselves be provoked. That’s the decisive factor.”

And having once experienced losing a tie after winning the first-leg 5-1 when manager of Borussia Monchengladbach against Real Madrid in 1985, Heynckes is determined not to make the same mistake again.

“We need the same attitude, willingness to run and good tactics,” he said.

“Barcelona are still the best team in the world. We know they’re capable of stunning results at home, and they’ve overturned deficits in the past. Their pride has been wounded and they’ll give it everything they’ve got. We’ll need a top performance.”