Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been left out of the Barcelona squad to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
Coach
Luis Enrique has left Messi out as a precaution after the Argentine was
withdrawn early in the league match with Athletic on Sunday, indicating
that he does not want to take risks with the player's fitness.
Medical
tests earlier this week revealed there was no muscle injury, but the
Barca boss has opted against taking his No.10 to Bilbao.
"I have never liked to risk players," Enrique said on Tuesday when
asked whether Messi would play. "It would be another thing if it was a
final, but I have always made a case that it’s not worth risking
players.”
Suarez, meanwhile, is facing a ban for his
involvement in a dispute with a number of Espanyol players in the last
round, with the appeal currently with the Court of Arbitration for
Sport.
A decision is expected later on Wednesday, but Enrique has decided to leave the Uruguayan out, perhaps anticipating a rejection.
Neymar,
therefore, will be the only member of Barca's first choice front line
available at San Mames, with Arda Turan Munir among the candidates to
partner him.
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