Messi out of UCL clash against Benfica

Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi will miss this week’s home Champions League game with Benfica due to injury, club sources told AFP on Monday.

The 35-year-old Argentine superstar suffered a slight calf issue in last week’s 1-1 draw in Portugal and missed Saturday’s draw at Reims in Ligue 1.

PSG will also be without defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes as well as midfielder Renato Sanches for Tuesday’s game in the French capital.

They sit top of Group H, ahead of Benfica, two-time European Cup winners, on goals scored in the group stages.

The ex-Barcelona forward has missed just one of PSG’s 14 games in all competitions this season and they will hope he is fit for Sunday’s high-octane Ligue 1 clash with bitter rivals Marseille.

Sergio Ramos will definitely miss Sunday’s game as he is suspended.