`AFP, Madrid :
Four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been passed fit to continue Barcelona’s title charge when they travel to Celta Vigo on Sunday, hoping to avenge a shock defeat to the Galicians earlier this season.
Messi missed both Argentina’s friendly wins over El Salvador and Ecuador in the past week due to a foot injury picked up in Barca’s crucial 2-1 victory over eternal rivals Real Madrid a fortnight ago.
However, he took part in a light training session on Thursday and the club confirmed that the infamation in his foot had improved.
The trip to Vigo kicks off an intense month for Barca with seven league fixtures and a Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain to come in the next 28 days.
However, defender Gerard Pique welcomed the challenge of trying to win the treble for just the second time in the club’s history after failing to pick up any silverware last season.
“The most important part of the season is coming now,” said the Spanish international.
“There are a series of very hard games and the Champions League quarter-finals around the corner. We know how hard it will be and we need to be up to the task if we want to win titles.
“We have the team to do it and we have shown how we have improved throughout the year which gives us a lot of confidence. We have the experience of last year and we have to try and improve on that.”
Barca will be without the injured Jordi Alba and suspended Javier Mascherano, but Sergio Busquets will be fit to take his place in the starting line-up for the first time in over a month.
Real Madrid can close to within a point of the leaders when they face struggling Granada in Sunday’s early game.
Four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been passed fit to continue Barcelona’s title charge when they travel to Celta Vigo on Sunday, hoping to avenge a shock defeat to the Galicians earlier this season.
Messi missed both Argentina’s friendly wins over El Salvador and Ecuador in the past week due to a foot injury picked up in Barca’s crucial 2-1 victory over eternal rivals Real Madrid a fortnight ago.
However, he took part in a light training session on Thursday and the club confirmed that the infamation in his foot had improved.
The trip to Vigo kicks off an intense month for Barca with seven league fixtures and a Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain to come in the next 28 days.
However, defender Gerard Pique welcomed the challenge of trying to win the treble for just the second time in the club’s history after failing to pick up any silverware last season.
“The most important part of the season is coming now,” said the Spanish international.
“There are a series of very hard games and the Champions League quarter-finals around the corner. We know how hard it will be and we need to be up to the task if we want to win titles.
“We have the team to do it and we have shown how we have improved throughout the year which gives us a lot of confidence. We have the experience of last year and we have to try and improve on that.”
Barca will be without the injured Jordi Alba and suspended Javier Mascherano, but Sergio Busquets will be fit to take his place in the starting line-up for the first time in over a month.
Real Madrid can close to within a point of the leaders when they face struggling Granada in Sunday’s early game.
