Messi on bench for Barcelona against PSG

BARCELONA (AFP) –

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi holds his leg during the Champions League quarter-final football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 2, 2013. Messi was passed fit to play for Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain but was left on the bench.

Lionel Messi was passed fit to play for Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain but was left on the bench for Wednesday’s match at the Camp Nou.

The World Player of the Year suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s first leg in the French capital, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

In his absence, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro Rodriguez start alongside David Villa in attack, while Adriano lines up in central defence with both Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano sidelined.

PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti left veteran Englishman David Beckham on the bench despite being without the suspended Blaise Matuidi.

Marco Verratti and former Barcelona man Thiago Motta start in midfield for the visitors, with the rest of their team unchanged from last week’s first leg.

Starting line-ups:

Barcelona (4-3-3):

Victor Valdes; Daniel Alves, Gerard Pique, Adriano, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta; Pedro Rodriguez, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa

Coach: Tito Vilanova (ESP)

Paris Saint-Germain (4-2-2-2):

Salvatore Sirigu; Christophe Jallet, Thiago Silva, Alex, Maxwell; Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta; Lucas, Javier Pastore; Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (NED)