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'Not fresh' Messi benched by Barcelona in La Liga for first time in over a year

Lionel Messi was named among Barcelona's substitutes for Saturday's La Liga contest against Real Betis, with it unclear if the Argentine was being rested or if he'd been dropped by Ronald Koeman.

The absence of the captain from Ronald Koeman's starting XI at Camp Nou was a peculiar one given Barca have failed to win their past four matches in Spain's top flight, although reports in Spain suggest he is not being risked due to a slight ankle problem.

Despite the suggestion he was merely being rested, Koeman's assistant Alfred Schreuder insisted there is no injury concern: "We're not talking about an injury [for Messi], he's just not fresh.