Messi included in Barca squad for Munich

BARCELONA (AFP) –

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Granada vs Barcelona at the Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium in Granada on February 16, 2013. Messi has been included in the Barcelona squad for the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been included in the Barcelona squad for the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

The Argentine took a full part in training on Sunday morning and although he hasn’t yet been fully cleared to play due to a hamstring injury, will be part of the 21-man squad that travels to Germany.

“Lionel Messi trained normally on Sunday morning and although he has not been given the medical all-clear, will be among the 21 players in the squad for the Champions League match against Bayern Munich,” said a statement on the Barcelona website.

“The only three players absent from the squad are the injured (Javier) Mascherano and (Carles) Puyol and the suspended Adriano.”

Messi is expected to start despite not having played since the second-leg of Barca’s quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain on April 10.

Meanwhile, the absence of Adriano, Puyol and Mascherano mean that 22-year-old centre-back Marc Bartra is likely to partner Gerard Pique at the back.