Barcelona face Malaga in LaLiga on Saturday night and they must do so without star man Lionel Messi, who is sitting out the trip due to personal reasons.

Coach Ernesto Valverde was expected to rotate his side ahead of Tuesday's Champions League return game with Chelsea, although it wasn't certain that the Argentine would be among those resting.

It is understood that the call was made at the last minute with Yerry Mina taking Messi's place in the matchday squad. Until now, Messi had participated in every LaLiga fixture this season, starting in all but one game, the Catalan derby at Espanyol.

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