Lionel Messi will not start vs. Real Madrid; among substitutes for El Clasico

Lionel Messi may yet be involved in the latest instalment of El Clasico, but he won't be on the pitch for the opening whistle.

Messi, only just recovered from the knee injury he suffered roughly two months ago - a torn internal collateral ligament in his left knee - was named to the bench for Saturday's contest against Real Madrid.

The decision by manager Luis Enrique to leave the Argentine on the bench, likely the correct one given the danger of further injury, means the match at the Santiago Bernabeu will signal the first time since 2007 that Messi has not started a match against Real Madrid.

Related: Lionel Messi fit to play in El Clasico; will be game-time decision

He had played 90 minutes in each of the past 27 meetings between the two eternal rivals.

In the superstar's stead, Enrique has opted to field Sergi Roberto as part of the attacking trident alongside Neymar and Luis Suarez.