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Lionel Messi injury: Will Barcelona star be at El Clasico? Concern gives Real Madrid boost
LIONEL MESSI has broken his arm and will not play in El Clasico - but will he be at Barcelona vs Real Madrid on Sunday?
Barcelona's Lionel Messi injures arm during Sevilla clash
Lionel Messi will miss the Clasico on Sunday after breaking his arm in midweek.
The Barcelona star suffered the injury in the 4-2 win over Sevilla last weekend.
It means Messi will not be able to play against Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season.
But that doesn’t mean Messi will not be in the Nou Camp.
The Argentina superstar is expected to make the game on Sunday afternoon and watch from the stands.
Messi turned up at the Nou Camp for Barcelona’s 2-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
The 31-year-old had a front-row seat for the clash with Inter and watched as his team-mates dominated the Italian giants.
Messi may also be involved in the Barcelona dressing room before and after the Clasico.
The influential forward is no stranger to the Clasico atmosphere, having played Real regularly since his first appearance against Los Blancos over a decade ago.
Messi was replaced by Rafinha for the Inter Milan game and the Brazil international is tipped to again stand in for their talisman on Sunday.
Nevertheless, the loss of Messi is a boost to Real Madrid, who themselves are labouring in La Liga right now.
For the first time in over 10 years the Clasico will take place without either Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo starting.
Real sold Ronaldo to Juventus for £105m in the summer and failed to replace the Portugal international.