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The midfielder has been suffering bother for several weeks, and for that reason, has been left out of the Spain squad.
According to the Medical Services “For several weeks, the player has been suffering bilateral aquiline tendinopathy, which has reached an acute stage. The player, the manager Pep Guardiola, the FC Barcelona Medical Services and national manager Vicente del Bosque have decided that the best decision would be for him not to play with the Spanish national team in the games against Lithuania and Scotland in order for him to remain in Barcelona and do recovery work.
Tomorrow, in consideration of the player’s condition, we will decide whether Xavi Hernández will also miss the game against Mallorca next Sunday."
- Javier Mascherano started his second game, playing 60 minutes just in front of the defence. 73 of his 77 passes were good) and he topped the team in recoveries, winning 10 balls. 
The Golden Boot is just the latest major honour to be won by Leo Messi. He has already won the FIFA World Player and the Balon d’Or, which is sufficient recognition of his place as the best player in the world – he has won the three most important individual awards in the world. The original trophy will now go on display in the FC Barcelona Museum for the next week.
Rubin employed six defenders and made life very difficult for Barça and for that reason Alves was not dismayed not to have won. “Given the circumstances of the game we go away feeling content,” the Brazilian said. “As a team they have played very well defensively. They had a line of five behind a line of four. We could not find much space and that cost us. We should have read the game better.” 
“The Blaugrana boss did lament the fact that his team did not take the lead at any point in the game."With these types of teams going in front can be a little advantage," he explained. Barça also drew in Kazan last season in a game that also saw them create enough chances to win. 
The Tartar side stunned FCB in both meetings in the last edition of the Champions League. At the Camp Nou they won 2-1, and then held the defending champions to a 0-0 draw at the Centralny in Kazan. That was five points FC Barcelona dropped against the Russian League outfit, making them the only side other than Chelsea that Barça have not beaten in teo meetings under Guardiola. But now it’s time to change history, as has already been done against Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. 
The other big talking point ahead of the crunch encounter is over striker Leo Messi. The Argentinian has been out for ten days since being on the receiving end of a Ujfalusi tackle and has yet to be declared fully fit. But he has been training normally and clearly wants to play, although such an immediate return to action may be a risky move. At least the weather is more favourable this year in Kazan, and that’s good news if he is named in the team. 
Last season, this same pitch was lost under a blanket of snow and the grass was taller than what the Barça players are used to. But this year there can be no complaints about the surface. The new turf in the Centralny impressed everybody, and should ebenfit the Catalan’s famous passing style.
After the Tartars did so well in the previous Champions League, almost qualifying for the second phase, Guardiola expects “it to be very similar to last season … it’s the same structure, with a few changes, as we saw in Copenhagen. Although they’ve lost ‘Chori’ Domínguez, they have signed some top quality players”. He added that better attacking is the key to getting better results against the Russian League club. 
Of course, he was pressed for clues regarding Lionel Messi. “First we’ll have to look at Leo’s ankle. He’ll train, and then we’ll speak to him and the doctors and then we’ll decide. It’s a very important match, bit his fitness is what matters most.” The Argentinian was able to train with his colleagues once again today in the Centralny Stadium. 
What a trio! Barça can boast the current Balon d’Or, generally believed to be the best footballer on the planet. They also have one of the top scorers from the last World Cup. And Pedro made history last season by scoring in six different official competitions. Messi has scored 7 goals in different competitions this year, the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla; plus League goals against Racing and Atletico Madrid and two more in the Champions Legue against Panathinaikos. David Villa opened his Barça account in Santander, added another in the Champions League versus Panathinaikos and sealed the three points at home to Sporting. Pedro started scoring in the Champions League match. Between them, Messi, Villa and Pedro have scored 11 of their team’s 21 goals. 
But these players are supported by some quality midfielders. All three goals in Bilbo came from players playing in this part of the pitch, namely Keita, Xavi and Busquets. Iniesta has also been on target this season with a long range effort at the Sardinero. 
The Brzilian was thrilled to find the back of the net in Barça’s first Champions League outing, getting the equaliser against Panathinaikos. Alves had not scored since a January trip to Valladolid. Piqué is a defender, but also has a striker’s instinct. He scored a typical centre forward’s goal from a corner taken at the Calderón. 
According to “Zubi”: “Rubin surprised us at home last season and that really set up the group. The meteorological conditions and the difficulty of the rival made it a very complicated task when we went over to Kazan, but this season we are going after having played the first game and the time of the year means that the climate will be more benign. I’m sure we will find difficulties on the pitch all the same”. 
Valdés, who made his debut under Louis van Gaal eight years ago on September 11th 2002 against Atletico Madrid, has made innumerable great stops to save the team over the last few years and averages 0.84 goals conceded per game in a 269 game run that has seen just 36 defeats. 
That was how Antoni Ramallets, who thrilled the Brazilian fans with some astonishing saves in the 1950 World Cup, was nicknamed. Ramallets was the keeper in the team of the 5 Cups, played 288 league games and enjoyed 177 victories, 47 draws and 64 defeats. Ramallets, who played for Barça from 1947 till 196, conceded 358 goals – averaging 1.24 a game. 
The “Dream Team” keeper was part of the club’s first European Cup winning team and is the keeper who’s played most league games for the club, winning his 177, losing 55 and drawing 69, conceding 273 goals -an average of 0.91 a game.
The squad left the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper -where they trained this morning - at 12.15 and caught a 13.20 flight to Kazan. The flight will take five and a half hours and the players will be taken straight to their hotel on arrival. 
"They know how to play well using direct tactics, but they also know how to battle when required like they did against Sporting," Guardiola continued. Last weekend Athletic came from two goals behind to earn a point in a 2-2 draw. 
On Wednesday Barça did not have an easy outing. "If Sporting played well at the back then we needed to improve going forward," Guardiola said. "But we are doing well. There is always debate about how things are done after every game. Against Panathinaikos and Atlético de Madrid we were in good form and we did not do so well against Sporting. The team is fine and we are competing well." 
Messi worked on recovering from his injury at the side of the pitch as the players were put through their paces. Along with 17 first-team player Alcántara stepped up from the B squad and impressed enough to be named in the squad for the game in San Mamés. 
The Barça squad will travel to Bilabo at 11am on Saturday morning and are scheduled to land 70 minutes later before travelling to a hotel where they will stay until game time comes.
It was the Rosell's first official act since he took over as president in July and he was accompanied by vice president of the social area Jordi Cardoner. The president revealed that he was very "excited" when handing over the badges as the club showed their thanks for the fans' support over the past half-century. 
During the ceremony, which was compeered by Camp Nou announcer Manel Vich, Rosell made a dedication to the supporters who received the gold crests. "It is a very special day and I want to dedicate a great round of applause to you for the 50 years that you have been a part of our club," he said. 
Among the 189 members to receive the crests was the man who was the football first-team's physiotherapist for over 30 years. Angel Mur is a well-known face around the club and Rosell included him in his speech and was given a warm ovation by all present.
The Argentinian star suffered his injury in the closing moments of Barça's win against Atlético de Madrid last weekend and has spent the last few days behind closed doors. Now he has moved up a gear and moved outside along with a coach and worked away from the rest of the first-team squad as he battles to regain full fitness. 
Messi is combining the training that he is doing on the pitch with an intense regime in the Blaugrana gymnasium at the Ciutat Esportiva complex. After he had completed his exercises on Friday he stayed out and watched the other players go through their warm-up exercises and ball games. 
But even though the “group block is more important than any individuals” Milito did admit that his compatriot is “unique and unreplaceable”. He added that Messi’s injury “is healing very well … he’s calm and relaxed, just letting time pass and keen to get back to helping the team”. 
The original trophy that will be received by the Argentinian star for topping the continent’s goalscoring charts in the 2009/10 season will be on show for a week on the first floor of the Museum, and all visitors will be able to see it in person and have their photographs taken with it. The golden trophy will be in a cabinet just in front of a huge display showing Messi’s picture and a list of the 34 goals that the Barça number 10 scored last season.
“We found it hard to find spaces throughout the game, but we found more after the break when we played better and made more chances, including the goal”. 
“Sporting are a solid team. They’ve always been a lively outfit who believed they belong in the top flight. Now they have made some good signings – people who know their job on the pitch. El Molinón has a lot of charisma and great fans. They are a team who have plenty of good points. They area finished object and they play really well”. 
Apatr from the missing Messi, Barça will again be without Abidal following a family bereavement, but Guardiola can call on Jeffren who is recovered from injury. Should he play, Piqué will make his 100th appearance for the team after just two years and two months back at the club. Preciado has suffered late injuries to Novo and Carmelo and he may also introduce rotations with number one keeper Juan Pablo rested and Gregory, Sangoy and Canella all missing the trip as their boss looks to maximise the points from this game and the match against Valencia next weekend. 
Barça bounced back from the defeat to Hercules with a magisterial performance against Atletico Madrid, after handing Panathinaikos a drubbing in the Champions League last Tuesday. Barça are currently in sixth place with six points, three behind leaders Valencia and have scored five goals and concede three. Sporting are lying 12th after starting the season with a heavy defeat at Atletico Madrid, beating Mallorca 2-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bilbao at the weekend. 
Despite his optimism, Guardiola also warned: “he’ll come back when he’s ready. It’s an injury that can have a number of after effects – if we don’t get him fully cured, it’s something he could carry with him for a while. I don’t know if he’ll be alright for the Rubin Kazan game, he’ll just have to rest till he’s okay again. We’ve not put a date on his return and he understands that perfectly well and I repeat, when he’s alright, he’ll come back”. 
Guardiola also insisted on distancing himself from the recent media rows, claiming: “our strength is on the pitch. The only thing we have to do is try and get better and to keep on winning games. We played really well 
As to his new signings, Guardiola was adamant: “Mascherano has adapted perfectly – we didn’t lose to Hercules because of him or Adriano. We’ll get nowhere with that type of analysis. Both of them are a great help, both off and on the pitch”. David Villa: “will get the goal. He’s scored wherever he’s played and the goals will come for us too”. Guardiola closed with the only negative note, concerning Abidal: “his grandfather has died and the funeral is today or tomorrow. He’ll come back when that is over”.
Durant that period, Barça hit rock bottom in the 22/34 season when they finished next to bottom and were saved the ignominy of relegation because of the expansion of the league from 10 to 12 teams and no teams went down that season. In 1937 during the Civil War, Barça won the Mediterranean League, a competition which was later annulled and whose games are not officially counted. Following the end of the Civil War, La Liga restarted and in 1941/42, the team finished 12th and had to win a playoff to stay in the top flight, something they did by beating Murcia 5-1. 
The 1990/91 season was to mark a turning point and the birth of the first “Dream Team”, as the club became identified with a freewheeling, attacking and entertaining style of play that helped them throw off the stigma of underachievers they’d been labelled with since the sixties. Over the next 20 years the team won 10 league titles – something it had taken the club the previous 60 to achieve. The winning mentality has reached its peak with Josep Guardiola in the manager’s seat as the team has enjoyed unprecedented success and prestige. 
The winning mentality has reached its peak with Josep Guardiola in the manager’s seat as the team has enjoyed unprecedented success and prestige. A look at the stats shows just how successful Guardiola’s team has been: of the 2,500 games played since the league began, 55% - 1379 – ended in victory for Barca. Since Pep has been in charge, the team has won 60 of its 79 league games, representing 76%.
Villa has scored in three of the four games he’s faced Sporting – twice from the penalty spot. On Sporting’s first visit to the Mestalla after promotion, they won 2-3, a result reversed in the game at El Molinon and Villa scored penalties in both games. 
After tests showed the injury to Messi wasn’t as serious as first feared, Villa commented: “we are lucky if he’s only going to be out for 10 days. Even so we’d like him to be still here as he’s a vital player for the team”. The Spanish striker also explained that he’d seen Messi this morning and: “he was better – he wasn’t in such pain and he was more confident about coming back”. 
Reflecting on Sunday’s result, Villa said: “every game is just three points, but it’s also important who you beat and where. It has been three years without a win there for Barça and the win gives us an extra motivation”. 
Leo Messi has suffered a number of injuries in his six years with the first team. One of his first occurred in the 2005-06 Champions League game against Chelsea, when he suffered a muscle injury that put him out of the final part of the season, as Rijkaard’s team went on to win their Champions League and La Liga double. 
Reflecting on the Saturday reverse against Hércules the Brazilian recognised that things did not go well. "We had a bad day and when you have a bad day you do not win," he continued. "However, it is better to lose now then to lose in the final straight. I hope we do not drop any more points at home though and that the points that we have now dropped end up costing us. We just have to stay calm and know how to come back." 
On the philosophy employed by the Blaugrana there should be not thought of trying to change in order to beat teams that play with a more basic style, Alves believes. "We have our own way of doing things and we do not think about changing," he explained. "If we can win by three or more goals then we will do that. It is not only about scoring though, it is about adding points, although here we play to win and entertain.. That is our philosophy and it will not change. It is a philosophy that has done us a lot of good."
Xavi also spoke about the imminent visit of Esteban Vigo’s side. “It the classic kind of game that can get difficult for us, Hercules will be especially motivated. If we sit back, we’ll get into trouble. There’s fun ahead, with six games in 18 days. We’ll need to charge the batteries”. 
Monica was introduced to Julià Bretos, who on September 24, 1984 became the first ever visitor to the museum. She was there to hand over the first ever ticket to be sold for the FC Barcelona Museum. 
But that was not the end of it. Mònica also got two tickets for the match on Saturday against Hercules and a gift voucher worth 300 euros to spend in the FCBotiga, which was specially opened for Monica to choose the Barça goodies she wanted.
Last season Leo Messi set a new personal best with 47 goals, 34 in La Liga. He looks to be going the same way this season, with four in his account already in just two official appearances: the Spanish Super Cup and the league opener against Racing. Messi is also just one goal away from scoring his one hundredth goal with his left foot.
Edmílson predicts that this year “Barça are still favourites along with Madrid”. But he does hope that “the other teams manage to make the league more competitive”, sensing that sides like Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are good enough to pose a decent challenge. 
