Barcelona are sweating on the fitness of Lionel Messi ahead of the crucial second leg Champions League quarterfinal clash against Paris Saint Germain.
Barca go into the second 90 with a slight advantage having scored two away goals in a 2-2 draw in Paris. However, they might have to pull off a positive result at the Camp Nou with Messi, who had to be taken off at halftime against PSG in the first leg, still a doubt for the game.
"We need to wait until tonight and tomorrow (Wednesday) to see about Messi, Pedro and Adriano," Barca assistant coach Jordi Roura said. "The feeling we have is positive but we have to wait for the training sessions before making a decision.
"If they play it is because they are fit to play. We have to be patient and wait on the medical tests which are vital to the final decision. I would not like to guess anything.
"If Messi cannot play, we will miss the best player in the world. It would be a handicap for us, but his replacement will play well too and we will try to win.
"The best way to approach this tie was to play a great first leg. We are happy with what we did in Paris. If Messi cannot play, his replacements offer guarantees and will perform at the highest level.
"Every match and every team are different. I am happy with the 2-2 draw in Paris. We have to treat this return game like a final and give an intense display. Our intention will be to win, like all our matches. We have to try that from the start."
PSG, who will be without the suspended Blaise Matuidi, will bank on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to provide the goals, with the Swede doubly motivated against his former side, while the possible absence of Messi will definitely work in the French club's favor.
"We have a better chance if Messi doesn't play, but it won't change our strategy," PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We have to have confidence to play against one of the best teams in the world. We need confidence and character. We can't think about our mistakes but about what we did well in the first leg."
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Expected lineups: Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Bartra, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Fabregas, Villa.
PSG: Sirigu; Van Der Wiel, Thiago, Alex, Maxwell; Verratti, Motta; Lucas, Pastore, Lavezzi; Ibrahimovic.
Prediction: 3-1 to Barcelona
