Lionel Messi misses training with fever

Lionel Messi was forced out of Barcelona's training session on Wednesday morning with a fever, but it is expected he will be well enough to face Real Madrid on Saturday.

The Argentina captain was visited by the club's doctors at his home and Barcelona hope he will be fit for Friday's training session, the last before Saturday's La Liga Clasico at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

The official Barcelona website reported that Messi was given medication by the first-team doctors and told to rest. The Barcelona squad have been given Thursday off, but will train on Friday before heading to the Spanish capital.

The news of Messi's illness comes a day after he produced a lacklustre performance in the Copa del Rey semi-final, second leg defeat to Real Madrid at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants were humbled 3-1 at home after a draw in the first leg.

Midfield maestro Xavi was also absent from Wednesday's training session, as he was receiving physiotherapy, but he is expected to be available for Saturday's La Liga showdown too.