Barcelona's Lionel Messi is carried away on a stretcher after picking up an injury against Benfica during their Champions League Group G soccer match at the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona Wednesday. — Reuters MADRID — Lionel Messi should be available for Sunday's La Liga match at Real Betis after recovering from a blow to the knee sustained in Wednesday's Champions League game against Benfica, Barca said Saturday. The Argentine World Player of the Year initially appeared to have suffered a more serious injury after colliding with Benfica goalkeeper Artur late in the 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp but tests ruled out anything worse than bruising. “The Barca No. 10 trained with the rest of his teammates Saturday and (coach) Tito Vilanova has decided to take him to Seville,” the club said in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es). “The Argentine footballer has recovered from the bruising to the bone on the outside of his left knee which meant he had to be taken off the pitch on Wednesday on a stretcher,” they added. “After the collision with Benfica keeper Artur the Barca forward had been working hard to be available for the coach as soon as possible.” Vilanova suggested Messi would be included in the starting 11, as his unbeaten side seek a 14th win in 15 matches this season. It tops the table with a La Liga record 40 points, six ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid and 11 ahead of arch rival Real Madrid in third. “If there was any risk of injury Messi would not be travelling,” Vilanova told a news conference at Barca's training ground. “Today he trained well without any discomfort,” he added. Messi has the 40-year-old record for the most goals scored in a calendar year firmly in his sights. The 25-year-old has 84 for club and country in 2012, one short of Gerd Mueller's tally of 85 set for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972. Mourinho hints at move away from Real and Spain Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has hinted at a move to another country, saying that sometimes a new adventure at a new club is the only way for a coach to remain motivated. “Football is not an easy world, specially for coaches and it's hard for one to stay for many years in the same club,” he said in an interview with Cape Verde's national radio. “I am wholly Portuguese and I have a bit of the navigator, of the discoverer in me. I like different countries, different clubs, different leagues and different cultures. “I am still not sure if in my future there is another adventure waiting for me because I need to be 100 percent motivated and sometimes new challenges can give us this motivation”. Media speculation surrounding Mourinho's future at Real Madrid has been rife. Mourinho has been linked to big-spending Paris St Germain and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has mentioned him as a possible successor at Old Trafford. — Agencies
