Lionel Messi not included in Barcelona squad to face Dynamo Kyiv | OneFootball

Lionel Messi hasn’t been included in the Barcelona squad that will travel to Ukraine to take on Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Frenkie de Jong has also been excluded, suggesting that Ronald Koeman is giving two of his most important players a rest after their disappointing defeat at Atletico Madrid this past weekend.

Samuel Umtiti, Ronald Araujo and Gerard Pique are all out injured at the moment, leaving Clement Lenglet as the only natural centre-back in the squad.

Sergio Busquets is also injured, so Miralem Pjanic will come in as part of the double-pivot and could be paired with Carles Alena or Riqui Puig.

Koeman could also play Philippe Coutinho alongside Pjanic, and then play Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Francisco Trincao in the attacking three. Antoine Griezmann is expected to continue to lead the line.

Barcelona‘s defeat at Atletico was the first time the Catalans have lost against a team coached by Cholo Simeone. It was a bad result, one that leaves Barcelona in 12th place.

The Azulgrana are currently 12 points behind league leaders Real Sociedad and just four clear of bottom-placed Celta Vigo. Barcelona are currently top of Champions League group G, having won all three games. Dynamo are in third.

Featured image courtesy of Talksport.