Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez aim to beat the chill as Barcelona's players prepare for Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon

  • Barcelona host Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday nightĀ 
  • Ernesto Valverde's side have already qualified for the knockout stagesĀ 
  • Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both trained on Monday afternoon in SpainĀ 
  • Barcelona haven't lost a game in Group D and sit above JuventusĀ 

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both appeared to be having plenty of fun on Monday as Barcelona's player prepared in chilly conditions for the visit of Sporting Lisbon.

Ernesto Valverde's side have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, having won three of their matches and drawn two.

Barcelona's final Group D game against Sporting is less important for the hosts as it is the visitors.

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi warm up before Barcelona's training session on Monday

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi warm up before Barcelona's training session on Monday

Suarez and Messi both put on gloves before the session as they tried to stay warm

Suarez and Messi both put on gloves before the session as they tried to stay warm

Messi is expected to start against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday night

Messi is expected to start against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday night

Sporting need a win to give them hope of overtaking Juventus into second place, with the Italian champions expected to beat bottom-placed Olympiakos.


Valverde's men will finish on 14 points with a win. Messi and Suarez are expected to start following the 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo in La Liga at the weekend.Ā 

Barcelona will be without central defender Samuel Umtiti. Umtiti injured his hamstring during the draw and will miss the crunch El Clasico derby against Real Madrid later this month.

Barcelona will finish top of Group D if they win or draw against their Portuguese opponents

Barcelona will finish top of Group D if they win or draw against their Portuguese opponents

Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic goes up for a header as Barcelona took things a little easy

Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic goes up for a header as Barcelona took things a little easy

Rakitic and experienced defender Gerard Pique also had to do their best to beat the cold

Rakitic and experienced defender Gerard Pique also had to do their best to beat the cold

Messi passes the ball during a possession-based drill on Monday afternoon in Spain

Messi passes the ball during a possession-based drill on Monday afternoon in Spain

Suarez works on his close control during the session in preparation for Tuesday's game

Suarez works on his close control during the session in preparation for Tuesday's game

Champions League Group D table as it stands

Champions League Group D table as it stands

The 24-year-old pulled up with a suspected hamstring issue, which tests later revealed the severity of.

Umtiti was chasing down former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas when something gave way in his leg, causing immediate discomfort.

Taking to their official website Barca released a statement regarding the player, confirming the bad news that Umtiti will be out until 2018.

Pique enjoys a brief break in play as Barcelona's player look to be enjoying themselves

Pique enjoys a brief break in play as Barcelona's player look to be enjoying themselves

'Tests carried out have confirmed that Samuel Umtiti has a hamstring injury in his right leg and he is expected to be out for around 8 weeks,' the club confirmed.

Following a period of recovery the defender is now expected to return at the end of January.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā