Catalan sports paper Sport today reports that to ensure he can play a part in Barcelona’s conquest to win the Club World Cup for the first time, Lionel Messi is even continuing with his ankle sprain treatment while in-flight en-route to Abu Dhabi.

The Argentine player made a series of specific work outs supervised by the team medical staffs and physiotherapist, Juanjo Brau. Among other things, he was massaged on the affected area and performed stretching exercises. All this at almost 12,000 feet while his teammates were having a good night’s sleep, taking advantage of the many first-class facilities an aircraft of this type offers (a specially chartered Turkish Airlines plane).

Messi is expected to join the rest of the players in some parts of the group training session today to gauge himself. If the sensations are positive, tomorrow he will train at full pace and might even play a few minutes in the semifinal, although it can be assumed that Guardiola will not want to risk him that early, preferring to use him in the final instead (hopefully). The best that Messi can hope for this Wednesday is to be listed on the substitute bench, ready to jump in should matters get complicated.

JUST A STEP AWAY FROM (BECOMING A) LEGEND

Pep’s Barça aspire to win their sixth title so they can conclude a historical year.

The coach is thinking about resting Messi in the match against Atlante in order to play him in the final.

They arrived exhausted to UAE after an 11 hour trip.

[Non Barça Related]

Espanyol: Indignation with Iturralde and there will be an appeal for Baena.

Madrid: Pepe, 6 months KO. Some people say Madrid will buy Otamendi in the winter market as the substitute.

WELCOMED AS HEROES (salam aleikum)

Barça, after a marathon trip, arrived at Abu Dhabi.

To win the sixth cup! Puyol wants to conclude this perfect year for Barça by winning the cup.

Suporterii Barcelonei au gasit o captura care demonstreaza cum jucatorul lui Espanyol, Baena, l-a tras de tricou pe Xavi in careu, la meciul de sambata seara!



Cei de la Real Madrid  si o parte a presei au acuzat  dur pe Barcelona si prestatia arbitrului Iturralde despre care s-a spus ca a facut cadou victoria campioanei din Spania!