Barcelona boss Koeman rests Messi, De Jong for Kiev’s CL tie; Sociedad win
Midfielder De Jong, who is 10 years Messi’s junior, has also played every match for the Catalan giants as well as five international fixtures for the Netherlands in the same period
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman said on Monday that Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong will not feature against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League this midweek, instead being given a rest.
Barca travel to Ukraine on top of Group G with a perfect nine points after three games, three points ahead of second-placed Juventus, but they are a lowly 12th in La Liga after losing 1-0 to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
“We’ve decided not to take Leo or Frenkie because our situation in the Champions League is quite comfortable,” Koeman told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Messi, 33, has played every Barca match so far this season and also played the full 90 minutes for Argentina four times over October and November.
Midfielder De Jong, who is 10 years Messi’s junior, has also played every match for the Catalan giants as well as five international fixtures for the Netherlands in the same period.
“The players need a break and we think it’s time for them to rest ... Both have played almost every minute and come from playing with their national teams,” Koeman added.
“Sometimes, you have to protect your players because the calendar is incredible.”
Injuries to several key players including Ansu Fati, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique have forced Koeman to rotate.
Antoine Griezmann and promising teen Pedri are expected to lead the attack while Clement Lenglet will lead the defence in the absence of both Pique, who picked up a knee injury on Saturday, and Samuel Umtiti.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil insisted the table means nothing, despite his team moving three points clear at the top of La Liga after beating Cadiz 1-0 on Sunday.
Alexander Isak headed in Adnan Januzaj’s cross shortly after the hour mark at the Ramon Carranza stadium to secure a sixth consecutive league victory for La Real.
An excellent start to the season shows no sign of abating, with Imanol’s side now three points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, albeit having played two games more.
They have scored an impressive 21 goals from their opening 10 matches, the highest tally in the league, and conceded only four.
“I certainly won’t be getting vertigo because I don’t think about winning six games in a row, I think about the next one,” said Imanol.
“The statistics suggest the team is doing well but it’s not enough. We want to achieve something great so we have to keep going.
“It’s useless to be top after 10 games, even more so with teams having games in hand. The table doesn’t tell me anything.”
Isak enjoyed a brilliant season last term but has struggled for goals in recent months, this only his second in 11 appearances since the start of the campaign.
“It’s normal for a forward to want to score, especially when they have chances,” added Imanol. “I told him the important thing is to have chances, that the goals would come, and so it proved today.”
After travelling to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday, Real Sociedad play at home to Villarreal, who sit third and are the league’s other surprise high-fliers.
Defeat means Cadiz sit fifth, just above Sevilla after a strong start for the newlypromoted side.
Getafe were earlier held to a goalless draw by Eibar while Valencia had to come from two goals down to draw away 2-2 at Alaves. Valencia are eighth and Alaves sit in 14th place.