Barcelona coach Guardiola will not risk Messi fitness

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will not be pressured into starting Lionel Messi in Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid.

Messi is still carrying his leg injury and Guardiola will not risk long-term damage by fielding the Argentine unless he is 100 per cent fit.

For now, the best Barca fans can hope for is a place on the bench for Messi.

However, there is better news for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who trained well yesterday and is expected to start on Sunday.