Lionel Messi returns to PSG training ahead of City clash on Wednesday

Lionel Messi shakes off knee injury as he returns to PSG training in huge boost ahead of reunion with Pep Guardiola in Champions League clash against Manchester City

  • Lionel Messi had been an injury doubt for the massive Manchester City clash
  • PSG take on Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League on Wednesday  
  • Argentine has been pictured in training and now looks likely to play a part 
  • Messi was star of one of the greatest ever sides under Guardiola at Barcelona 

One of the glamour ties of the Champions League group stage has been given a huge boost with Lionel Messi now looking set to play for PSG against Manchester City. 

The Argentine superstar had been an injury doubt for his new side’s Champions League clash with Pep Guardiola’s men on Wednesday. 

He suffered a knee problem during PSG’s Ligue 1 victory over Lyon last week and there were fears that he would miss out on the reunion with Guardiola. 

Lionel Messi appeared to be in high spirits during training with PSG after returning from injury

Messi suffered a knee injury against Lyon but fears over a long absence have been allayed

The Argentine set to work with his team-mates in preparation for the Champions League clash

Messi is now expected to feature for PSG against Pep Guardiola’s City on Wednesday

But fresh images of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner have emerged and suggest an altogether more optimistic outlook. 

Messi was seen laughing with Neymar and joining in with all the drills on the training pitch for Mauricio Pochettino’s men. 

The 34-year-old underwent a scan on his knee but the results were positive and injury fears allayed. 

The forward missed out on PSG’s 2-0 win over Montpellier, which helped them extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points. 

But Pochettino was hopeful that he will take centre stage for the huge Champions League clash, saying: ‘As you’ve seen in the medical update which comes out before the press conference, we are going to assess him,’ he said. 

‘We hope he improves and on Sunday we will be able to give a positive update. We hope everything goes well and he will be available again.

Messi took part in all the drills with his team-mates and looks in shape to play 

PSG trail City in Group A after drawing their opening game away from home at Brugge

‘We hope he can play (against Man City). We have to be cautious to see how he evolves in the next few days.’ 

City lead Group A after swatting aside RB Leipzig in the opening round while PSG could only draw with Club Brugge.  

Messi was heavily linked with a move to City last season and this summer but it never came to fruition and he could now line up against his former Barcelona boss and mentor. 

Together, they were a formidable partnership as two of the main pillars for the Catalan side’s golden period. 

Messi scored 211 goals in 209 games for Barcelona under Guardiola and won the Ballon d’Or four times under his tutelage. 

It remains to be seen whether Pochettino sees Messi as fit to start the big game at home 




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