Searching for Midas touch

Messis mini slump,no goals in four games,in focus as Barcelona face Milan

Lionel Messi has set the bar so high for himself that when he does not score for a few games it prompts an outburst of speculation and head-scratching about what might be ailing the Argentine World Player of the Year.

That is the situation Messis club Barcelona find themselves in as they prepare to host AC Milan in Champions League Group H on Wednesday. At home to Espanyol on Friday,Messi failed to score for a fourth successive La Liga match in which he played the full 90 minutes,his most barren run in almost six years.

Messis season was disrupted by a minor muscle strain at the end of September and since his return he has also failed to score against Osasuna,Celta Vigo and Real Madrid. That said,he did net the equaliser in last months 1-1 Champions League draw at Milan,his fourth goal of the competition in two outings this season following his hat-trick against Ajax Amsterdam in September.

His record in La Liga is also one most players would be delighted with eight goals in 10 appearances yet still the alarm bells are ringing in the Catalan capital and beyond. Barcas four club captains Xavi,Carles Puyol,Victor Valdes and Andres Iniesta are so worried that they have offered to meet Messi to see if he needs their help,Sport newspaper reported on Sunday.

Messi himself has said little about the situation,although he posted a message on social networking site Weibo at the weekend saying he was not yet back to full fitness. I am still not at 100 percent physically but for sure with each passing match I will pick up more rhythm, he said.

Barca coach Gerardo Martino,who like Messi hails from the city of Rosario,played down concerns about the players form after the Espanyol game.

Messi does not seem worried to me. Its just a coincidence that he has not scored in three or four gamesm, he said.

Story continues below this ad

Messi has raised the bar so high that when he doesnt score its suddenly a problem. If Messi rediscovers his mojo before Wednesday,Milan could be on the receiving end of a stinging backlash,particularly as the seven-times continental champions are struggling for form.

Saturdays 2-0 defeat at home to Fiorentina in Serie A was their fourth game without a win and they are well off the pace down in 11th in the table and in danger of not qualifying for Europe next season.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri did not mince his words,saying Milans performance in the final third of the match was the worst he had seen in his three-and-a-half years in charge.

Wilshere,Gibbs doubtful

BERLIN: Arsenals Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs are doubtful for trip to last seasons runners-up Borussia Dortmund with coach Arsene Wenger eager to make amends for last months loss to the Germans. Wenger is expected to be without Wilshere and could also miss Gibbs while he also needs to see progress on Mathieu Flamini,who missed the 2-0 win over Liverpool. Defender Gibbs went off holding his calf in that game while Wilshire injured his ankle in training last week.

Torres,Bertrand ruled out

Story continues below this ad

LONDON: Fernando Torres will miss Chelseas Champions League game against Schalke 04 on Wednesday after failing to recover from a thigh injury. Torres has been in sparkling form recently,scoring twice in the 3-0 victory at Schalke two weeks ago and also the winner against Manchester City,but he has struggled to regain fitness after suffering a thigh injury.

He skipped training this week and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he would also be sidelined.

Mourinho added that defender Ryan Bertrand has also been ruled out of the Schalke match after picking up an injury in training on Tuesday.