PSG attacker Lionel Messi will not be taking part in his side’s Champions League trip to Germany, where they’ll face RB Leipzig. Having won a close fought game against the Bundeslgia side in September (3-2), where the Argentine played a crucial role in bailing the side out, Messi’s absence will be a massive blow for Mauricio Pochettino.
A statement from the club confirmed that he was suffering pain in his hamstring in his left thigh and also has a bruised knee. There is a good chance he might not be available for the game against Bordeaux on Saturday back in the Ligue 1.
The Argentine was taken off at half-time in their dramatic 2-1 win over Lille. Angel Di Maria’s 88th minute strike won them all three points, and the pressure on Pochettino for being up to the mark in the Champions League is just intensifying.
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The Red Bull arena hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for a lot of visiting teams in the past, and there is a good chance it might not be for the Parisians.
After the game against Bordeaux, the four-time Champions League winner is also needed by the Argentine national side for two World Cup qualification games in the international break, in a bid to seal their spot for the 2022 World Cup. La Albiceleste will face Uruguay and Brazil on 13th and 17th November, respectively.
Although it is just game week 12 and 13, with the side placed comfortably in the second spot, there are concerns over Messi potentially not being available for their two biggest games in the qualifying games that are remaining to play.
Since completing a dramatic move from Camp Nou to Parc de Princes, Leo has missed out a lot of footballing action because of that recurring injury. He scored three goals since leaving Barcelona, all of them coming in the Champions League, two of which came against Leipzig in the last game week.
Adding to PSG’s woes, they will also be without their talismanic midfielder Marco Verratti for this fixture. Verratti, who was instrumental in an important 2-0 victory against Manchester City in the group stage, has a hip injury, which could keep him out of action for this game, and the league game to follow.
