Luis Suarez believes Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi will play a decisive role in Saturday’s Clasico meeting with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – even if it is only from the bench.
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Messi has been out of action since the end of September with a knee injury, and remains touch and go for Saturday’s game despite taking part in full training since the start of the week.
Although he has come through the last few days unscathed and looking sharp, Barca are aware that a highly competitive game is a very different matter from a few training exercises and are wary of the risk of the injury recurring.
In-form Suarez, who has netted nine goals in nine games during Messi’s absence, gave no clues over his expectations for the starting XI, saying: “It’s a decision for the manager and the medical team.
“He is training with us and looking good, but it’s the kind of injury which could have risks for the future.”
Suarez was also eager to serve a reminder that Messi has recent history of determining a big game from the bench, pointing to his match-winning appearance in September’s away win at Atletico Madrid, when he appeared as a substitute to score the winner after missing the game’s preparations to attend the birth of his second son.
“Leo makes the difference, we know that,” said Suarez. “We don’t know if he will start or be on the bench, but he showed at the Vicente Calderon that he can also be decisive as a substitute.”
Suarez also rejected the suggestion that any Real Madrid players will look to deliberately injure Messi’s knee if he does play, or that he will do the same to home skipper Sergio Ramos, who is doubtful with a shoulder injury.
Messi wants to play 90 minutes in the Clasico but the coaching staff wants to be cautious and could come off the bench [md]
— FC Barcelona Fl (@FCBarcelonaFl) November 19, 2015
“I am not going to target Ramos’s shoulder and I don’t think anyone will target Messi’s knee,” Suarez said. “We are all colleagues. Maybe we’ll put a bit more pressure on him, but nothing more than that.”
On a personal level, Suarez is relishing his return to the site of his debut for Barca just over a year ago.
Having missed the start of last season with a suspension, Suarez endured a bittersweet first outing for the Blaugrana as he teed up an early goal for Neymar but then saw Madrid battle back to secure a 3-1 victory.
The Uruguayan enjoyed much better fortunes in the return match at the Nou Camp in March, scoring the winner with a brilliant finish, and now he is eager to collect his first win at the Bernabeu.
“Playing at the Bernabeu is special and going there will bring back memories for me. I’m feeling good and have great desire to win the game,” he added.
