Lionel Messi LEFT OUT of Barcelona’s 19-man Champions League squad for trip to Dynamo Kiev

Barcelona have left Lionel Messi out of their 19-man squad to face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Argentine played the full 90 minutes of Barca’s 1-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Saturday, but was not included in the list of players who will travel to the Ukraine for the Group G match.

Manager Ronald Koeman advised he has decided to rest Messi and midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the European tie because they are in a good position in their group but are struggling in 12th place in LaLiga.

Lionel Messi has been left out Barcelona’s 19-man squad to face Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday

‘We’ve got various players out due to injuries and we have decided that we won’t be taking Leo or Frenkie because the situation in the Champions League is something that is quite comfortable with the nine points that we’ve got’, Koeman said on the omissions.

‘These two players need to rest because they have played a lot of matches and we think this is a good moment to rest them.’ 

The club cannot afford another injury after Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto joined Ansu Fati and Samuel Umtiti in the long-term absentee list.

Manager Ronald Koeman has decided to rest Messi (R) and Frenkie de Jong for the away tie

The superstar forward is due a rest after missing just 45 minutes of action in total for Barca this season and played all of both Argentina’s games against Paraguay and Peru last week.

More to follow.