No break for Messi

Valverde is trying to manage his squad and periodically rest his more regular players. Luis Suarez has already started on the bench this season, which shows the Barcelona manager’s intentions. However, Messi is not quite as expendable.

The Argentine remains a vital figure for the team and his stunning performances at the start of the season have taken the Catalan club to the top. Barca need him and he still has not been rested.

The situation with his national team will not allow him to rest either. Messi will report for international duty, with the side managed by Jorge Sampaoli depending on the Barca superstar to secure a place in next year’s World Cup.

With the Champions League, the need to keep up their efforts in La Liga so that Real Madrid don’t close the gap and the crucial fixtures with Argentina, the No 10 will not have a break until Christmas, as long as he suffers no injuries.

Valverde could always bench Messi, which could thwart the team’s dynamic that appears to be directly contingent on the displays of the Barca star, who has scored nine of his team’s 20 goals so far this season.