Messi overcomes knee concerns as PSG star trains for Manchester City clash - in pictures

Argentine attacker missed last two games but should be fit to take on Guardiola's side

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe with sporting director Leonard. Reuters

Kylian Mbappe with Keylor Navas, back, and Lionel Messi, right. EPA

Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar and Lionel Messi at the Ooredoo Training Centre on the eve of their Champions League Group A match against Manchester City on Tuesday, September 28. EPA

Lionel Messi with Leandro Paredes during training session in Saint Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris., on Monday. AP

Neymar, centre, with Lionel Messi, right, during PSG's training session. AP

Lionel Messi during training session on Monday. AP

Lionel Messi during PSG training on the eve of their Champions League match against Manchester City. Reuters

Neymar and Lionel Messi. Reuters

PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas during training on Monday. Reuters

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe during PSG's training session at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. AFP

Neymar and Marco Verratti during training. Reuters

Neymar and Lionel Messi train in Paris. EPA

Lionel Messi, right, during training. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R), Brazilian forward Neymar take part during a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training ground in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 27, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at training. AFP

Lionel Messi trains ahead of the Champions League match against Manchester City. AFP

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, right, watches Lionel Messi battle for the ball with Leandro Paredes. AP

Kylian Mbappe trains with Lionel Messi. AP

Kylian Mbappe points to Lionel Messi during training. AP

Lionel Messi trains with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. AFP

Lionel Messi could well have been playing for Pep Guardiola this season. But as things transpired, the Argentine great will be facing his former Barcelona manager when Paris Saint-Germain take on Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

And there will be a lot riding on the match. Messi did not feature in the last two games for the club as he recovered from a bruised knee. Not just that, he has played just three games for the Parisians and is yet to score.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping Messi is in top shape for Tuesday's match and also gets to open his account for the French club on the big stage.

Expectations will be high in both camps. Messi last won the Champions League in 2015, while Guardiola has not lifted the trophy since Messi took the Catalans to victory over Manchester United in 2011.

However, Messi will be hoping for a better outing in Europe than his previous one. Messi saw PSG settle for a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge in Belgium in their euro opener.

City enter the contest on the back of two morale-boosting wins - a 6-1 verdict against Wycombe in the League Cup and a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the league. However, manager Guardiola realises the club is still missing a top-class centre forward.

The manager had earlier spoken of the absence of a “weapon” up front. “The club needs in the next years a striker. When it's not possible, it's not possible, we move on with the fantastic squad we have,” he had said.