According to various Spanish reports and media outlets, FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi will not be fit in time to compete in El Clasico against Real Madrid on November 21 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu shortly after the end of the international break.
Not fit yet
Lionel Messi has been recovering from a tear in the Medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his left knee which he suffered in a match against newly promoted side Las Palmas on September 26. Because of that, the injury has keep him out of action for club and country for more than a month as it looks to be two months heading into the big match on the 21st.
He has also been unable to maintain his captain duties for his native Argentina as he missed the first two and set to miss the next two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers during the next international break next week as they play rivals Brazil at home and then away to Colombia in two crucial games after only getting a point from their first two games last month against Ecuador and Paraguay respectively.
Fair share
However, not all is fear at the Camp Nou following the injury of their star player. The defending Spanish and European champions have played six matches, winning five and only losing against Sevilla in Seville in the first league match without the Argentine. The Blaugrana currently sit second in La Liga equal on 24 points with their rivals Real Madrid with only goal differential seperating the two sides for the top spot.
Should Real Madrid beat Sevilla and Barcelona beat Villarreal over the weekend, the two sides will have 27 points before the big derby match, which might as well give the advantage of who occupies the top spot in the Spanish league to the winner of El Clasico.