Barcelona face Bayern with Messi doubt

MUNICH (AP):

Barcelona still can't say for sure if Lionel Messi will start against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals today.

On the eve of the match, assistant coach Jordi Roura was as circumspect about Messi's chances as teammate Xavi Hernandez was confident.

Roura says Messi is making good progress from a right hamstring injury but that doctors and staff would wait until the final practice session before making their evaluation.

But both were clear on one thing - having Messi in the team could be crucial on today.

"Messi is the best player in the world. He is very important for us, he can make the difference," Xavi said late yesterday. "We'll see the best Messi from the start. He guarantees the stability of the team."

Roura would not go that far.

"I don't want to lean too much out of the window," the assistant coach said. "We have a good feeling, but we have to wait for the final word from the doctors. There is no doubt our game thrives when he is on the field. He is the one who can decide.

"We have managed to win without him, but there is no doubt that it's crucial for him to be on the field."

Messi injured his hamstring on April 2. He has since missed three Spanish league games, but he went on as a substitute to help Barcelona come from behind and advance from the quarter-finals at Paris Saint-Germain's expense two weeks ago.

The four-time FIFA player of the year changed the momentum of that game, demonstrating once again how much Messi matters to Barcelona.

"We have a deep squad, and we have good players. But I can only repeat that it would be important to have Leo on the pitch," Roura said.

Xavi and Roura are expecting there to be little between Barcelona and Bayern across the two legs.

"I don't think things will be clear after tomorrow," Roura said.

Home win

Barcelona not only laboured against Paris Saint-Germain. The team also trailed 2-0 after the first leg of the quarter-finals against Milan before storming back to win 4-0 at home. Xavi said that is the quality of play needed to beat Bayern.

"We have to dominate the game, to show our personality," Xavi said. "But they'll also want possession and to take the ball away from us.

"The two teams have similar philosophies, similar style. It would be bad to lose a lot of balls and keep running after them."

Roura also hoped Barcelona could repeat the kind of performance it displayed against Milan.

"We want to control the game, but it's going to be difficult," Roura said. "We knew after the draw it would be tough, it's no surprise. Bayern have marched through the Champions League, they have dominated at home."