Champions League: Koeman gives Messi another rest against Ferencváros

FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has once again decided to rest Lionel Messi in the Champions League and left the Argentinian out of his squad for Wednesday’s game away to Hungarian side Ferencváros on Wednesday.

Barcelona are already assured of qualification from the group stage of the competition and are clear favorites to win in Budapest even without Messi.

Koeman, who has also rested attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho and goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen, justified his decision by saying it would be the “last time” Messi would be able to rest for a long time.

Koeman’s main problem for the game will be organizing a defense missing all four of the central defenders in his first-team squad (Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and Ronald Araujo).

Lenglet suffered an ankle injury in last Sunday’s 4-0 win over Osasuna, but should be fit to face Cadiz at the weekend, but his absense on Wednesday means B-teamer Oscar Mingueza will continue in the side with either Junior Firpo used as a makeshift central defender or Sergio Busquets or Frenkie de Jong dropping back from midfield.