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Cape Town - Barcelona must decide whether to recall Lionel Messi to the side for Tuesday night’s Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund.
Kick-off is at 21:00 (SA time).
The Barca skipper has yet to feature this season after picking up a calf injury playing for Argentina at the Copa America in the summer but could return this evening after being named in Ernesto Valverde’s squad.
Messi was passed fit by the medical team after training on Monday and now Valverde has to decide whether to put him straight back into the side that takes to the pitch at Signal Iduna Park.
Barcelona have won only two of their four opening La Liga games without him, so news of his return comes as a big boost as the Catalan giants look to go all the way in the competition following shock exits in the last two seasons.
The 16-year-old sensation Ansu Fati is also included in the squad after two goals and an assist in 116 minutes of La Liga football.
However, he looked to be tiring towards the end of the 5-2 win over Valencia at the weekend and Valverde could take the opportunity to rest him.
Valverde has also hinted striker Luis Suarez could return to the starting line-up after injury.
The Uruguayan came off the bench to score a brace in the win over Valencia and could start in place of Fati against BVB.
- TeamTalk Media
