Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been able to start training after tearing a ligament in his left knee in September and the club is hoping he can return for the Clasico against Real Madrid coming up. According to ESPNFC.com, Messi has been able to start running and working with a ball while training and that could mean his return is on the horizon.
Messi originally injured his knee back in September and ESPN reports that Messi is in the "final stage of his recovery" and the club is "optimistic" that he can return for the Real Madrid match. The match is on November 21 and that gives the 28-year-old star some extra time to get himself fit for the match. Messi was originally expected to miss seven to eight weeks with the injury and the Real Madrid match would come in right around that timetable.
Barcelona is leading the La Liga table over Real Madrid by three points heading into the weekend and the club would be thrilled to have Messi back for the matchup. The Daily Mail reports that Messi may not be ready to start right away, but that he could come in off the bench for the club. Messi has been able to run lightly and has also been able to kick, but he needs to do more in his training before he can get back on the pitch.
According to ESPN FC, Argentina national team doctor Homero De Agostino said that Messi should sit out of the Clasico match, as that is a tough one to try and test out an injury on. Messi could come off the bench for the match and he did that for the last game against Atletico Madrid and he made an impact by scoring in that game after coming in.
Messi being out has not hurt Barcelona much, as the club has lost just once without the star in the lineup. The team has won seven of nine matches without Messi across all competitions and the team has one draw and one loss.