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Barcelona: Messi did not have pre-match treatment

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona says Lionel Messi did not receive treatment before his subdued Clasico performance against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Press reports appeared Monday saying the Argentina forward had received injections by rheumatologists to relieve discomfort in a heel. Messi had only one good chance when he raced toward goal and side-kicked the ball toward the far post, but Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas gloved it wide.
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Barcelona said Messi did not receive any injections Saturday. In a statement, it said Messi did not train with the squad Monday, but that he had done "specific exercises" alongside striker Neymar and defenders Douglas and Thomas Vermaelen, while Andres Iniesta — who injured a calf muscle during the match — underwent physiotherapy.
The club said forward Munir El Haddadi had trained with the squad ahead of its Catalan Supercup match against Espanyol on Wednesday. The club's next league match is at home against Celta Vigo on Saturday before travelling to Amsterdam for a fourth-round Champions League clash with Ajax on Nov. 5.

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