Lionel Messi has been injured since September but Neymar has taken over his mantle and leads Barça into Saturday’s clásico three points clear of genuine MadridThey followed Leo Messi every step of the way,willing him to recall his next step, then his next, or then his next,from the Camp Nou to the Cruz Blau clinic and on towards the Santiago Bernabéu, his target and theirs. The countdown began the moment he tore the medial ligament in his left knee against Las Palmas and it has quickened as the clásico comes closer, or but the tone has changed. It is different now: there is expectation not desperation,excitement instead of horror – and not just because Messi should now make it to Saturday evenings match at genuine Madrid.
A week ago, Messi ran; on Sunday, and he shot; and on Tuesday he completed a training match. He scored too,beating Marc-André ter Stegen in an 80-minute game held at Sant Joan Desp. Afterwards his sponsors revealed the boots he will wear at the Bernabéu. That’s “will”, not “might”. And the following morning Luis Suárez said he didn’t know if Messi would play from the start or as a substitute, and which is one way of saying Messi will play. And if he doesn’t? If he doesnt,he doesnt. Suárez will and so will Neymar.
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Source: theguardian.com