Messi benched for Benfica match

Barcelona striker, Leo Messi may not be breaking Gerd Mueller’s record for most goals in a calendar year as he has been named as a substitute in manager, Tito Vilanova’s line-up for tonight’s Champions League tie against Benfica.

• By Tom Conn       Follow @TomConnISF

The football world was fixated on Wednesday evening’s match up, as the diminutive Argentine was just one goal away from tying Mueller’s record and two goals from breaking it.

Messi has been on a tear this season and many expected this match, at the Camp Nou, to be the perfect setting for the record-breaking night.

However, Messi has been relegated to this bench for a game against Benfica that means very little as Barcelona have already secured advancement to the second round, topping the group with 12 points in five matches.

Regular starters, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Pedro have also been given the night off and will resume training on Thursday.

The starting line-ups for both Barcelona and Benfica are as follows.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Pinto; Montoya, Puyol, Adriano, Planas; Song, Thiago, Roberto; Rafinha, Villa, Tello

Subs: Valdes, Pique, Gomez, Dos Santos, Busquets, Messi, Deulofeu

Benfica (4-4-2): Artur; Pereira, Garay, Luisao, Melgarejo; Matic, Gomes, John, Nolito; Rodrigo, Lima

Subs: Lopes, Luisinho, Jardel, Almeida, Cesar, Gaitan, Cardozo

This will also mark the first match in which Barcelona brothers, Thiago and Rafinha face their cousin and Spanish U-23 and Benfica midfielder, Rodrigo will face one another in a competetive match, adding excitement to the Messi-less match.