Coach Pep Guardiola has given Lionel Messi the go-ahead to miss Barcelona’s opening game of the Primera Division season in order to prepare for Argentina’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Brazil.
Argentina, currently fourth in their qualifying group, face leaders and arch rivals Brazil in Rosario on September 5 – just five days after Barca start the defence of their Spanish league title against Sporting Gijon.
That game against Sporting had been pushed back to the Monday because of Barca’s commitments in the European Super Cup final against Shakhtar Donetsk on the previous Friday, and meant Messi would have been late in joining up with the Argentina squad.
