All eyes on Messi again

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Leo Messi (file photo)

Leo Messi could add another record to his already staggering list of achievements if he scores for FC Barcelona on their visit to play relegation threatened Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.

Messi scored in Barca's last 18 league matches, a feat unsurpassed in the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga and will make it 19 if he scores in the Balaidos Stadium against the side that currently sits second from bottom of the Primera Liga table. That would mean he has scored in every game for an entire half season and not only that, it would mean he has scored against every team in the league this season, given that Celta is the only side he has failed to find the net against this campaign.

Barcelona received excellent news on Tuesday when coach Tito Vilanova returned from New York after two months in the U.S. undergoing cancer treatment and Vilanova has work to do ahead of Saturday's game.

Celta coach, Abel Resino may not be wrong when he says that despite the absence of top scorer and star striker, Iago Aspes through suspension, it is the best moment to play Barcelona as the league leaders have players missing through injury and others who have returned tired following the week's international matches.

Messi himself played a tough game at altitude in Bolivia on Tuesday along with Javier Mascherano and actually vomited at halftime in the game as a result of the effects of altitude in La Paz.

Meanwhile seven Barca players including Xavi Hernandez played in Spain's 1-0 win in Paris on Tuesday. Xavi will definitely miss the trip to Vigo as the club try to assure his troubled hamstring is in shape to allow him to play in the Champions League tie away to Paris Saint Germain next week.

Meanwhile defenders Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba and Adriano Coreira are all injured, meaning Martin Montoya may have to adapt to cover at left back, while Marc Bartra could return to action after injury to allow Mascherano or Gerard Pique to rest.

Finally Victor Valdes is still suspended and Jose Pinto will continue in goal against his former club.

The injuries and the need to rest players should see youngsters such as Thiago Alcantara and Christian Tello given another chance to shine.

Another factor in the game is the weather and the state of the Balaidos pitch after heavy rainfall in all of the country and the north-west in particular. Barca are likely to find a heavy pitch that turns increasingly muddy and difficult as the game continues. That won't favor their passing style and Resino will be hoping that maybe bustling Celta striker Mario Bermejo may feel more at home on it that Messi.

However, Messi is Messi and if there is one thing he has shown in his last 18 league games, it is that he knows exactly where the opposition goal is.

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