Barcelona receive huge fitness boost ahead of Champions League showdown with Manchester City

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Manchester City will reportedly most likely be facing a 100 percent fit Lionel Messi when they take on Barcelona next week.

The two sides meet in their Group C encounter in the Champions League at the Nou Camp next Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola returning to his former club.

Messi was a doubt for the game after sitting out the last three outings for Barca with a groin injury, but it appears as though the club have received more positive news.

According to Sport, the Argentine international will return to action in Saturday’s clash with Deportivo having returned to training this week, and Barca are confident that will allow him to improve his fitness and feature against City a few days later.

Messi has scored twice in his last four games against the English outfit, and he’ll be hoping to boost his side’s chances of securing a positive result by extending that impressive goalscoring record next week.

In contrast, City will be desperate for a good result having been eliminated by the La Liga champions in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015.

Prior to his injury setback, the 29-year-old had unsurprisingly been in great form, as he has already registered eight goals and five assists in eight appearances in all competitions so far this season.

As a result, it paints a picture as to just how much of a boost it will provide the Catalan giants with if he is passed fit to return this weekend, as they look to bounce back from their 4-3 defeat to Celta Vigo prior to the international break.

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