Luis Suarez hopeful Lionel Messi can feature against Real Madrid
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is hopeful that Lionel Messi will be fit to play in Saturday’s La Liga match at Real Madrid.
The Argentina international, who is the club’s all-time leading scorer, has been out of action since September 26 with a knee injury but returned to training this week.`
Messi is unlikely to start at the Santiago Bernabeu but Barca coach Luis Enrique is expected to have the player on the bench.
“The coach will make the decision whether Messi plays or not,” Suarez said to the Spanish media on Wednesday. “He has been training with the squad and he has a good feeling but we have to wait and see.
“We know that Messi can change a game at any time and he is above the rest.”
Messi scored 58 goals in all competitions for Barca last season, while Suarez added 25 as part of Barcelona’s record-setting attack to help the club win a Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble.
Suarez and his attacking partner Neymar have accounted for 20 of Barca’s 23 goals since losing Messi to injury.
Neymar is La Liga’s leading scorer with 11 goals, two more than Suarez.
“We are happy with the job we have done so far despite being without the best player in the world,” Suarez said. “We have done a good job without Messi on the pitch.”
Barca head into the first Clasico of the season in Madrid riding a four-match winning streak in La Liga.
They are three points clear of Real at the top of the standings.
“To arrive at the Bernabeu stadium with a three-point advantage over Real is great,” Suarez said. “I don’t know if we are favourites but Real is always Real and we know what they can do so must be very focused.
“It’s always special to play in Madrid and I have fond memories having made my Barca debut there last year even though the result was not what we expected.”
Barca lost 3-1 at the Bernabeu last season but beat Los Blancos 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp in March with Suarez scoring the winner.
Suarez is well rested after not featuring for Uruguay during the international break as he is still serving a suspension dating back to the World Cup.
“We hope we can win this game,” the former Liverpool forward said. “We are in good form and eager to bring back a victory.
“But winning and taking a six-point advantage over Real Madrid in the month of November does not mean we are guaranteed to win the title.
“There is still a long way to go before the end of the season.
“We cannot forget that Atletico Madrid will also be fighting for the title.”
