Messi to miss Barcelona’s game at Real Betis

BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi has been left out of Barcelona’s squad to face Real Betis in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Messi returned to training this week after recovering from a right calf injury picked up in preseason, but the Argentina star was not included in the list of players available for the team’s home opener at Camp Nou Stadium.

He missed the team’s 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the league opener last weekend.

Coach Ernesto Valverde is also without forwards Luiz Suárez and Ousmane Dembele because of injuries.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Neymar heading back to Barcelona after World Cup qualifiers

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona says that Neymar won’t rejoin the team until after he plays in Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

That means that Neymar will miss Sunday’s Spanish league match at Athletic Bilbao.

Brazil plays Ecuador in Quito on Sept. 1 and five days later it hosts Colombia in Manaus.

On Saturday, Neymar scored the decisive penalty in a shootout to help Brazil beat Germany for its first Olympic gold medal in men’s football.

Despite the striker’s absence, Barcelona has won all three of its matches this season.

source: sports.inquirer.net