BARCELONA - Lionel Messi will be rested for the second Champions League game in a row in missing Barca's trip to Hungarian side Ferencvaros but will not sit out any more games after that, coach Ronald Koeman said on Tuesday.
With the Catalans already qualified for the knockout stage, Koeman said it was more important that Messi was feeling fresh for Saturday's trip to Cadiz as Barca hope to rise up the La Liga standings following a poor start. "We have to give opportunities to other players and Saturday's game is very important. We need to win. There were only two opportunities to rest him but after tomorrow he won't rest any more."
Barca have won all four Champions League games but may need to beat Ferencvaros and avoid defeat in their final game at home to Juventus, who trail them by three points, to clinch top spot in Group G and be seeded for the last-16 draw.
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