Much of the Clasico talk surrounded whether Argentine superstar Lionel Messi would play, having torn his internal collateral ligament of his left knee back in late September.
The four-time Ballon d’Or winner was ruled out for 7-8 weeks upon diagnosis, putting his chances of making the trip to Santiago Bernabeu under danger.
Fortunately, the 28-year-old made a comeback in less than two months, and was thus named in the Blaugrana’s 18-man squad for Saturday’s game.
However, with Luis Enrique admitting that the four-time Ballon d’Or winner was not at 100 percent, doubts still remained whether La Pulga would slot right back into the starting eleven or whether he would merely make the bench.
Messi, who is back after a knee ligament injury, will start on the bench in the game against Real Madrid today. [rac1]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 21, 2015
With the game less than an hour away, the world received their answer.
Notice a four-time Ballon d'Or winner on the bench?
Substitutes #FCB: 1. Ter Stegen 10. Messi 17. Munir 19. Sandro 21. Adriano 23. Vermaelen 24. Mathieu #ElClásico
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 21, 2015
BREAKING: #Messi will not be starting in the #ElClasico! Can he make an impact off the bench? #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/MnEGtItfo0
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 21, 2015
Messi, having missed 5 Liga BBVA matches, will begin the Catalan giants’ first game since the latest international break on the bench, and will have to wait a bit longer to return to the pitch.
This decision may be pleasing to Barcelona fans, who in a recent poll on AS, admitted that they would prefer Leo not start in the weekend clash over fears of suffering a relapse.
Social media, Twitter in particular, had a lot to say on this matter. Check out below for the best tweets.
Messi starts from the bench. Good. Don't need to rush his return.
— DRE4M (@SocialBarca_10) November 21, 2015
Lionel Messi will start the Clasico on the bench. Sergi Roberto starts instead, with Iniesta presumably in a more advanced role.
— TheODDSbible (@TheOddsBible) November 21, 2015
miss you a lot, messi. #fcb
— SHAWN DMED ME (@CuleShawnie) November 21, 2015
Messi on the bench can still do the damage
— Abiram J (@aj_cfc2) November 21, 2015
Messi to be super sub for today's classico.#ElClasico
— Omkar.S (@ElusivePhantom) November 21, 2015
Messi coming off the bench like pic.twitter.com/ImKHYSPll0
— pete alcivar (@palcivar93) November 21, 2015
1 - Lionel Messi could play his first #clasico as a substitute (30 starts). Careful.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 21, 2015
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