Messi left out of Barca Cup tie

Uruguay striker Suarez is relaxed about his omission on the shortened list of nominees and highlighted the abilities of his South American compatriots. This basically tells how dominating the team has been even without Messi.

Barca extended their record for King’s Cup titles to 27 when they beat Athletic Bilbao, who are second with 23, 3-1 in last year’s final.

However, Suarez believes Messi would not leave the Nou Camp and also insists that the Argentine and his family are happy in Catalunya.

Neymar scored two goals in Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday. They were there and for a very good reason.

The phenomenally in-form forward trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all earned a rest, with Neymar and Suarez remaining on the bench alongside Andres Iniesta, and Messi left out of the squad entirely.

Barcelona breezed into the Copa del Rey last 16 as a Sandro Ramirez hat-trick helped them to a 6-1 second-leg win over Villanovense.

This will be the only match of the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey to be resolved today, as the first match was scheduled earlier due to Barcelona’s participation in the Club’s World Championship in Japan in two weeks time.

Defender Jeremy Mathieu is definitely out with a muscle ailment, and Sergi Roberto unlikely to feature as he continues recovery from an ankle problem picked up against Roma on November 24 last. “We won’t take risks with injured players”. “I always am because the players are having fun doing what they are doing and it’s always easier when someone is enjoying themselves in what they do”. “We just keep taking it from game to game”, he said.

Fired by the goals of Messi’s South American compatriots Neymar and Luis Suarez, they are four points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga and secured top spot in their Champions League group with a game to spare.