Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Barcelona news: Real Betis boss makes Lionel Messi admission over injury return
LIONEL MESSI could make his return from injury when Barcelona face Real Betis this weekend.
Lionel Messi returns to Barcelona training after arm injury
And Betis boss Quique Setien has admitted he likes to see Messi on the pitch - but hopes Barca don’t risk their talisman against his team.
The Argentine fractured his arm against Sevilla nearly three weeks ago and has since missed all of the Catalan club’s last five matches since then, including a 5-1 defeat of Real Madrid.
But Messi has returned to training and travelled with his team-mates to Italy in mid-week for their Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
Messi missed out on the squad as a 1-1 draw sealed Barca’s progress to the knockout stages with Ernesto Valverde insisting that he did not want to take a risk with his captain.
The manager explained post-match: “Training isn’t the same as playing. We talked about it and he understood.”
But the 31-year-old himself was keen to play at the San Siro and could be in line to feature against Betis, depending on the recommendation of the club’s medical staff - who decided he should not feature against Inter.
Yet a two-week international break after the clash with Betis means Messi could potentially be spared again and allowed another fortnight to fully recuperate.
And opposition manager Setien is hoping that Barca will do just that, though he did admit that he would welcome Messi’s appearance because he is “a joy to watch”.
They're doing well and there's not a need to take risks.
“I think Messi should wait, I wouldn't risk him," Setien said in an interview with Esports RAC1 discussing his side’s trip to the Nou Camp (Sunday, 3.15pm UK time).
"There's the international break after this game and he'll have two more weeks.
"Any fall could provoke a serious problem that might have important consequences.
"They're doing well and there's not a need to take risks.
"That said, I do like to see him on the pitch as he's a joy to watch."
And discussing his own side’s approach ahead of their Europa League clash with AC Milan in Andalusia tonight (8pm), Setien insists his team will set up to win against the Blaugrana.
He added: “I’m preparing to take on AC Milan and Barcelona and we'll go to try to play well and to try to win [both games].”
Barca won four of their five matches in Messi’s absence before drawing with Inter, with Luis Suarez stepping up to score five goals in their two La Liga matches without the skipper.
That sees them three points clear of neighbours Espanyol at the summit.