Report: Lionel Messi unlikely to make El Clasico

Lionel Messi is reportedly not expected to feature for Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season away to Real Madrid on November 21.

The Argentine has not played for his Catalan club since suffering a serious knee injury at the end of September, but has stepped up his recovery in recent weeks.

El Clasico towards the end of this month had been pencilled in as the return date for the 28-year-old, but according to Sport, Messi is losing his race to be fit.

It is understood that the attacker is wary of returning too soon and December is now said to be a more realistic target for the 105-time Argentina international.

In Messi's absence, youngsters Munir El-Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez have rotated in the front three alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar.