Lionel Messi has been left out of a significantly weakened Barcelona squad for today’s trip to Primera Division strugglers Real Zaragoza.

Barca have opted to put their stars in cotton wool with Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto also given the weekend off.

Messi’s exclusion comes as no surprise as Barca take a safety-first approach to a hamstring injury suffered in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain last week.

Messi returned off the bench as Barca secured their place in the last-four in midweek but still appeared inhibited by the injury and his side barely snuck through on the away goals rule following a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp.

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