Leo Messi rested for Barca's 'dead rubber' game against Inter Milan

MADRID - FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has left Leo Messi out of his side's squad to face Inter Milan in the last game of the Champions League group stage.

Barcelona travels to Milan already assured of qualifying for the last 16 of the competition as group winners and as well as leaving the striker out of the squad, Valverde has also left Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto out of the squad.

Messi scored the 35th hat-trick of his career in Saturday's 5-2 win against Mallorca and is now back to his best form, while Sergi Roberto is the only fully fit right back in the squad.

Nelson Semedo, Jordi Alba and Arthur Melo are still out injured (as is Ousmane Dembele) and with a difficult league trip to play Real Sociedad on next Saturday followed by the "Clasico" at home to Real Madrid on December 18th, the Barca boss is taking no risks.

Young forward Ansu Fati has recovered from injury and returns to the squad, where he is accompanied by other B-team players, Inaki Pena, Carles Perez, Ronald Araujo y Dani Morer and promising midfielder Riqui Puig.