Injured Messi out of Barca's clash at Inter

Ousmane Dembele takes Messi's place up front alongside the in-form Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, ahead of Rafinha.

Published : Nov 07, 2018 00:55 IST , Milan

Lionel Messi (R) was back in training with Barcelona at the San Siro.
Lionel Messi (R) was back in training with Barcelona at the San Siro.
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Lionel Messi (R) was back in training with Barcelona at the San Siro.

Lionel Messi was left out of Barcelona's Champions League clash at Inter Milan on Tuesday as the Group B leader aims to qualify for the last 16.

Messi is recovering from a broken arm suffered last month, and Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has opted to leave the superstar attacker out of the match at the San Siro, sticking with the same starting XI that scraped past Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at the weekend.

Ousmane Dembele takes Messi's place up front alongside the in-form Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, ahead of Rafinha.

READ | Messi to face Inter? Zanetti hopes Barcelona star is benched

Radja Nainggolan returns for hosts Inter, which is fresh from winning its seventh straight Serie A match on Saturday, after recovering from a left ankle injury picked up during last month's Milan derby.

The Belgian, who scored Inter's stoppage-time fifth in his cameo appearance during the 5-0 drubbing of Genoa at the weekend, replaces Joao Mario in midfield, while Matias Vecino steps in for Italian Roberto Gagliardini alongside Nainggolan.

Both teams will qualify on Tuesday if Inter win and Tottenham and PSV Eindhoven draw in the group's other game.

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