Barca wait on key pair for huge Inter showdown

Barcelona are keeping their fingers crossed Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are declared fit for the mouth-watering visit to the Nou Camp of Internazionale (Barcelona 8/11 draw 5/2 Inter Milan 4/1 match bets) in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Argentina superstar Messi and former Inter favourite Ibrahimovic are both struggling to shake off thigh injuries for the must-win clash in Catalunya but Barca have not given up hope that they will be ready to face the Serie A champions.

"Messi has an injury in the abductor muscle of his left thigh," read a club statement. "We do not discard his presence in Tuesday's game.

"As for Ibrahimovic, there has been an improvement with regards to his thigh injury but we will have to monitor the situation."

Barca could only muster a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night and now trail bitter rivals and Sunday's opponents Real Madrid by one point in La Liga.

The holders also trail Inter by one point in Group F and travel to Ukraine to meet Dinamo Kiev in their last match next month.

An Inter win on Tuesday and victory for Rubin against Dynamo Kiev would see Barca eliminated (Barcelona 4/1 joint favourites with Chelsea Champions League outright prices).

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