Barcelona’s assistant manager Jordi Roura admitted Lionel Messi has had “good sensations” over the last few days but stopped short of declaring the Argentinian fit for tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg at the Allianz Arena, as the Catalans prepare for a tie knowing that perhaps for the first time in five years they do not go into it as favourites.

That makes Messi’s presence all the more significant. Meanwhile, there was no clear indication as to who Barcelona will choose as they look for a central defensive solution in the absence of Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Adriano.

Messi came on to turn around the quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain despite not being fully fit following a hamstring injury. But while he helped to create the goal for Pedro that sent Barcelona through, he did not moving freely and by the end of the game appeared to be struggling.

Like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, plus Gerard Pique, who has been protected in the light of injuries to other defenders, Messi has not played a single minute in the fortnight since. All four players are expected to start the semi-final but Roura said he did not "dare" give Messi the all-clear yet.

'Trained normally'
The Bayern Munich manager, Jupp Heynckes, had few doubts. "As far as I am aware, he has trained normally and will be there from the very first minute," he said. "He has had muscular problems, that's true and he didn't play on Saturday, [but] that was just a precaution."

Heynckes also again showed his irritation when the name of Pep Guardiola, who will succeed him at the Allianz Arena next season, was brought up. Guardiola has not shown his face, he has not opened his mouth and he has not uttered a word but there has been no escaping him.

“Guardiola is a Barcelona fan and I am sure that he will want Barcelona to win,” said club captain Xavi Hernandez, while Roura rolled his eyes when asked if he might talk to the Spanish club’s former manager. “No, no” he said. “This doesn’t make any sense.” Guardiola has maintained a discreet silence but after the semi-final draw Heynckes demanded a German reporter show him more respect when it was suggested that he might contact Guardiola for advice as to how to beat Barcelona.

Here he again said that he felt that the media had been "disrespectful, including to Pep".

Messi's fitness
He said: "I know Barcelona as well as I do Bayern." That knowledge includes being certain that Messi will start, even if Heynckes did add the inevitable caveat: "It is not just Messi, they have [Andres] Iniesta and other good players. They are a collective." Messi's fitness and his significance was, inevitably, a recurring theme. "In the last few days he has had very good sensations and he seems to be evolving well [from his injury]," Roura said. "But I don't dare to foresee anything. We'll see how he is now, we'll hear what the doctors say and tomorrow [Tuesday] we will make a decision. When a player is the best in the world of course he conditions the game, the way you play, and of course if you don't have him you notice that. He has an impact on the game.

'Wait and see'
"But we have to wait and see. We know that we have decided games without him. But of course having him is important and maybe [Bayern] don't say that but I am sure they know that too."

Bayern saw off Juventus with little difficulty in the quarter-finals and wrapped up the Bundesliga title having conceded only 14 goals in 30 matches so far. "We can approach Barcelona as equals" said Philipp Lahm, the club captain.
Guardian Service