Lionel Messi to miss Copa del Rey Clash

The Argentine Forward is unavailable after being laid low by the flu, but he is expected to return in time for Sunday's La Liga derby against city rivals Espanyol.

Lionel Messi has been laid down by the flu, and Victor Valdes who is the goalkeer, also will miss the last 16 clash for the same reason. According to the team management both players are expected to be fit for sunday's La Liga derby against Espanyol.

Mennwhile Andres Iniesta could also be available for the trip to the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

Last 2010 World Cup final hero has been out of action since damaging the biceps femoris in his left leg, in last month's Copa del Rey rout of Hospital. However, Iniesta, who is training away from the rest of the squad. is reportedly making good progress in his recovery from the muscle tear.

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Barcelona could meet Real Madrid if it progresses to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, with its rivals having recorded a 3-2 victory over Malaga in the first leg of its last 16 clash at the Santiagado Bernabeu on Tuesday Night.

About Lionel Messi from Wikipedia

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as an forward. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010. His playing style and small stature has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his "successor."

Messi began playing football at a young age and his skill and potential was soon realized by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Messi then had the most successful season of his playing career, the 2008–09 season, in which he scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. This record-breaking season was then eclipsed in the following 2009–10 campaign, where Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona. He surpassed this record again in the 2010–11 season with 53 goals in all competitions.

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