Lionel Messi to decide whether he plays vs. Athletic Bilbao
Although manager Luis Enrique insisted Messi is healthy following fears he damaged his hamstring during Sunday's La Liga match against Bilbao, the Argentine could miss the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final after he missed Tuesday's training session.
"(Messi) is fine, he has no injury, just some discomfort," Luis Enrique told reporters. "Tomorrow we will decide if he plays. The match squad will be announced tomorrow.
"I never like to take risks with any player. A final would be different. But that is not the case with Messi now, as he is not injured. Whether he plays will depend on how he is feeling."
Barcelona confirmed Monday that tests on his hamstring failed to reveal significant damage, instead saying Messi suffered a "knock" during the league fixture when he was forced to leave at halftime.
His absence could be even tougher to swallow considering Luis Suarez is in danger of missing the encounter after he was handed a two-match ban for comments he made towards Espanyol players last week. Barcelona has since appealed the ruling and is waiting for a final decision on the matter.
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