Messi alijiandaa kukutana na Real Betis wakati shida ya majeraha ya Barcelona ikiongezeka

With Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele set to miss Sunday's clash at Camp Nou, the Argentine is closing in on his first appearance of the season.

Lionel Messi is set to hand Barcelona a fitness boost, with the club's captain set to be ready to face Real Betis on Sunday.

The Argentina international missed Barca's opening day trip to Athletic Clubas the Catalan giants succumbed to a stunning Aritz Aduriz overhead kick.

With Luis Suarez limping off in the same game with a calf injury and it revealed on Monday that Ousmane Dembele is set for five weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem , it seemed all of the attacking responsibilities would be heaped on the shoulders of summer signing Antoine Griezmann.

The 32-year-old picked up a calf injury early in his pre-season preparations having returned from Copa America duty, and has been training away from the main group.

He is now back in full training, though, as the Blaugrana look to get their first points on the board.

Messi is expected to be named in the matchday squad, and it is likely he will feature from the bench.

A double session has been scheduled for the diminutive frontman during the week, taking his tally to five training sessions ahead of Sunday's clash.