Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde dismissed suggestions that Lionel Messi was not fully recovered to qualify for 0: 0 at Athletic Bilbao.

La Liga leader stopped for the third time in a row with no goals in all races. With Messi heading back from a slight injury, Athletic Club did not allow Barcelona to take full marks from San Mames.

Messi kicked Barça’s 1: 1 draw against Real Madrid in the first semi-finals of the King’s Cup on Wednesday, due to the blow he had taken in his squad, but was titled to Bilbao on Sunday.

The Argentine superstar was Barca’s most lively player, but still not at his usual level.

Consequently, Barcelona stopped because Philippe Coutinho did little to ease the burden on the team’s main man. However, Valverde insists that Messi was ready to play.

Speaking to journalists after the game, Valverde said: “Messi is very good, he played at 100% of it.”

“He has had some difficulties because we experienced them as a collective. But when he plays, he does because he is fully convinced that everything is fine, “he added.

Chelsea will ask Milan to include Franck Kessie in a possible deal for the final purchase of Tiemoue Bakayokos by Serie A club, according to the Daily Star.

Bakayoko, who was singled out for his appearances in Monaco, failed to meet expectations at Stamford Bridge, pro has seen his recent form at San Siro.

The French midfielder’s loan to Milan ends at the end of this season, but the Rossoneri have the option to buy it.

Also, Milan is obliged to buy Kessie from Atalanta when the two-year loan expires at the end of this season the blues will be ready to grab it immediately.

The star of Lille Rafael Leao’s was better than Cristiano Ronaldo when he was a star at the youth academy, says former coach Tiago Fernandes.

Leao – who is excellent for Lille so far this season in Ligue 1, have recorded six goals and an assistant in 13 appearances – has come out of the academy of Sporting, just like his compatriot Ronaldo.

Fernandes believes the 19-year-old is the best player at the academy of Sporting.

“I pressured Jorge Jesus then the coach of Sporting, to take on the first team and I said: ‘Yes, Gelson Martins has talent, but Rafael is the best player in the history of the Sporting Academy'”, Fernandes said.

At the youth level, he believes, Leao was better than Cristiano.

“At the youth level, he was better than Cristiano Ronaldo. When he decides to be decisive, such is the case. He just decides and does, “he added.

6 points, so now is the difference between Real Madrid and Barca after the equalizing match of Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona have scored points in the leg of the 23rd round in La Liga, equalizing 0-0 in “San Mames”.

Both Bilbao and Barcelona – had their own occasions over 90 minutes after a very open match with a good opportunity to score but the gates remained intact.

Leo Messi, who came into the game with some minor concerns, was head coach but could not help his side.

This result is mostly in favor of Real Madrid, who, after winning at Atletico Madrid, narrowed the gap to six points with Barcelona’s leader.

Barca now has 51 points, while Real is in second place with 45.