FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.04.2008 12:20

Ready for the season’s finish

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Now that he has recovered from his hamstring injury, Argentinian Leo Messi has been granted medical clearance and is available for selection by Frank Rijkaard for what is left of the season.

Messi has missed five weeks of action, and sat out a total of seven games, five in the league, two in the Champions League and one in the Copa del Rey.

Injured against Celtic

Messi went down injured on March 4 in the Champions League return match between Barça and Celtic. With qualification as good as decided after an amazing performance at Celtic Park (2-3) and an early goal from Xavi at the Camp Nou, Barcelona’s celebrations were cut short by the news that their hero was injured again.

Medical tests were taken the day after that revealed that the player had torn his left hamstring, and was expected to be sidelined for something in the region of six weeks.

Trip to Argentina

After completing the initial stages of his recovery in Barcelona, Messi travelled to Argentina on March 13 to continue his recuperation as part of a plan agreed by the Club Medical Services and physios from the Argentine FA.

Ready to play

Leo Messi returned to Barcelona on April 3 for the final stages of the treatment process. A few days before he was expected to be fully fit, he managed to complete a normal training session along with the rest of the squad, and looked fine as he took part in a practice match.

Irregularity without Messi

Without Messi, Barça have won three, drawn three and lost two games. This period has seen Barça secure a place in the Champions League semi finals, thanks to the win against Schalke 04, but has also seen them go out of the Copa del Rey after losing the return leg in Valencia (3-2).

The last time Messi played a league match was against Atlético Madrid (4-2), and since then Barça have won two, drawn two and lost one in the domestic championship.