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PSG logo
Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg
Feb 14, 2023 at 8pm UK
Parc des Princes
Bayern logo

PSG
0 - 1
Bayern


Kimpembe (70'), Neymar (86')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Coman (53')
Pavard (26')

Lionel Messi declared fit for Champions League clash with Bayern Munich

Messi declared fit for Champions League clash with Bayern
© Reuters
Lionel Messi is declared fit for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayern Munich.

Lionel Messi will be fit for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayern Munich next week despite concerns over a hamstring problem.

The Argentina international has been left out of the PSG squad for this weekend's Ligue 1 clash with Monaco due the injury that he picked up against Marseille in the Coupe de France on Wednesday.

There had been fears that Messi would be absent for his side's European contest with Bayern, which will take place in the French capital on Tuesday night.

However, PSG head coach Christophe Galtier has revealed that the World Cup winner will resume training on Monday with a view to featuring against Bayern.

"Leo won't be available for the Monaco game tomorrow. He will resume training on Monday, the day before the game against Bayern Munich. So you can leave the term 'doubtful' aside," Galtier told reporters.

Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with Neymar and teammates on January 11, 2023© Reuters

"We know the importance of Leo in our game. Because of his absence, we will maybe have to play differently to have a more solid and more compact team."

Messi has been in impressive form for PSG during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 15 goals and registering 14 assists in 25 appearances in all competitions.

The Argentine has scored 10 goals and registered 10 assists in 18 Ligue 1 appearances this term, while he netted four goals and registered four assists in five Champions League outings.

Messi arrived in Paris from Barcelona in August 2021, and he has represented the capital giants on 59 occasions, scoring 26 goals and registering 29 assists in the process.

The forward's future at club level is unclear, though, as his current deal is due to expire at the end of June.

Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022© Reuters

Messi has been linked with a switch to the MLS and a return to Barcelona, but it appears likely that he will sign a new deal in Paris before potentially ending his career in North America or Saudi Arabia.

PSG will welcome Bayern for the first leg of their last-16 tie next week before travelling to Germany for the reverse match on March 8.

The French champions are expected to be without the services of Kylian Mbappe, though, as the forward picked up a thigh injury during the contest with Montpellier on February 1.

Les Parisiens finished second in their Champions League group behind Benfica, picking up 14 points from their six matches.

The capital outfit finished as runners-up in the 2019-20 Champions League before reaching the semi-finals in 2020-21, but they were knocked out of last season's competition in the round of 16 by Real Madrid.

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Draw
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Bayern Munich
45.6%
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Lionel Messi in action for Paris Saint-Germain on November 2, 2022
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