Barcelona play their fifth match of this season’s Champions League group stage away to Ferencvaros in Budapest on Wednesday night, with the Catalan club having already wrapped up their place in the last 16 of the competition.
As such, Ronald Koeman has taken this opportunity – as he did for the trip to Dynamo Kiev on Matchday 4 – to leave Lionel Messi out of the squad so that the Argentine can get some rest.
The Dutch coach’s decision to not include Messi in his squad is historic, as he has never sat out back-to-back Champions League games due to rest. The only previous times he has missed consecutive matches in Europe is due to injury or some discomfort, which was the case in the 2006/07, 2007/08, 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2018/19 seasons.
Koeman wants the now 33-year-old Messi to be ready for Barcelona’s more important matches, so he has seized the chance to rest the star. He did make clear, however, that he has not consulted the Barcelona captain about this.
“It’s unusual for him to rest, I know, but there were two moments in this season’s calendar when he could be given a break: in Kiev and now,” Koeman said during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“We are already qualified and the LaLiga game on Saturday [away to Cadiz] must be won. It’s time for him to rest because then there will be not be a chance to do it. We would like to have him always, but I have taked to him and asked him, and the final decision is of the coach.”
Therefore, after tonight, Messi’s rest is over. The Dutchman also left out Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Philippe Coutinho, so there will surely be plenty of rotations in Budapest.
Koeman does at least have Clement Lenglet, who had to be replaced against Osasuna due to an ankle problem but has been included in the squad that have made the trip to Hungary.
Rotations
A rotated Barcelona side, like the one that played and beat Dynamo Kiev last week, will try to ensure that the Catalans remain at the top of Group G. Ferencvaros have already been eliminated after picking up just one point from their opening four games, but they are still aspiring to finish in the Europa League.
Neto will return in goal at the Groupama Arena, while in defence it expected that either Lenglet or Frenkie de Jong will play alongside Oscar Mingueza. At left-back, it is unknown whether Jordi Alba or Junior Firpo will start.
The double-pivot roles will likely be filled by Carles Alena, who shone in Kiev, and Miralem Pjanic. Then, in attack, and in the absence of Messi and Coutinho, Martin Braithwaite and Antoine Griezmann should occupy two of the front four positions. Pedri, Francisco Trincao and Ousmane Dembele are fighting for two places.
