TEMPO.CO, Barcelona-Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is looking sharp in training but remains a doubt for Saturday's 'El Clasico' against Real Madrid, team mate Luis Suarez said.

Messi is in a fitness battle having returned to training on Monday following a knee injury he picked up at the end of September.

"Whether he plays or not is down to the coach, the medics and how he feels but he has been looking sharp in training. However, it is the type of injury where there are risks for the future," Suarez told a news conference on Wednesday.

"Messi is a player that makes a difference in all games and in Clasicos he has always made a big impact but we will have to see if he is ready."

A poll by Spanish magazine Sport shows that some of Barcelona fans want their star Lionel Messi to start the match from the bench during El Clasico against Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

The poll with over 3,600 respondents show that 79 percent of Barcelona fans do not want Messi in the starting 11.

While Barca are looking for a seventh straight win between La Liga and the Champions League, Real need to battle back after defeat away to Sevilla before the international break when they were weak defensively.

Barcelona now sit at second in the table. Three points against Madrid will certainly help elevate their post.

REUTERS | BLEACHER REPORT | GADI MAKITAN | NZM