Lionel Messi: Koeman drop captain for Champions League clash against Dynamo Kyiv

Lionel Messi: Koeman drop captain for Champions League clash against Dynamo Kyiv

- Lionel Messi has been exempted from Ronald Koeman's squad ahead of their Champions League match with Dynamo Kyiv

- Barcelona have a perfect record in this season's elite competition with three wins in three matches so far

- La Blaugrana just need a point to confirm their place in the next stage of the competition

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Lionel Messi will not be available for Tuesday's Champions League clash between Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv and Barcelona.

The 33-year-old played all 90 minutes during La Blaugrana's 1-0 loss to La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

According to Goal, Ronald Koeman has dropped their inspirational player for the trip to Kiev but did not state their reason for exempting Messi.

Lionel Messi: Koeman drop captain for Champions League clash against Dynamo Kyiv
Lionel Messi: Koeman drop captain for Champions League clash against Dynamo Kyiv. Photo by David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images

Messi was in a kind of discomfort during Barca's loss at Atletico but he finished the match without being subbed.

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Barcelona have a 100 per cent record in the Champions winning all of their three opening matches including the 2-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus.

And a draw at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi will ensure their passage in the round of 16 in the competition.

However, their form on the domestic scene is nothing to write home about, recording three wins and two draws in eight matches but have two outstanding matches to play.

Koeman's side have also lost to Deportivo Alaves and eternal rival Real Madrid in the El Clasico as they occupy 12th position on the log

To make matters worse, teenage sensation Ansu Fati has been ruled out for four months following a knee injury while he was on international duty with Spain.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Lionel Messi and his Barcelona teammates have been slammed for leaving 17-year-old Pedri to conduct an interview with the press after their loss to Atletico Madrid.

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It was the first time in Diego Simeone's career that his team would defeat La Blaugrana in La Liga following a lone strike from Yannick Carrasco.

The loss was at the Wanda Metropolitano Barcelona's second of the season under Ronald Koeman as they maintain tenth spot with two matches at hand.

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Source: Legit.ng

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Akan Anwankwo avatar

Akan Anwankwo Akan Anwankwo is a sports editor, a graduate of English Language and Literature Studies at the University of Lagos. He's passionate about what he does and finds fulfillment in informing readers.