La Liga: Messi vomiting 'not normal', coach Martino says

BARCELONA - Recent episodes of vomiting suffered by Barcelona forward Lionel Messi are "not normal" but they do not affect his performance and there is no cause for alarm, coach Gerardo Martino said on Friday.

Messi was sick during Argentina's 0-0 draw with Romania on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) and the four-time World Player of the Year said it was something that had occurred several times at Barca but was nothing to be concerned about.

"It happens to him regularly and he has even gone to see specialists at certain times," Martino told a news conference ahead of Barca's La Liga game at Real Valladolid on Saturday.

"They haven't solved the problem but it isn't a cause for concern. It doesn't affect him at all in terms of doing his job," he added.

Champions Barca, chasing a fifth title in six years, can pull two points clear of Real Madrid at the top with a win at Valladolid, who are battling relegation down in 18th.

Real is at home to eighth-placed Levante on Sunday (Monday, PHL time), while Atletico Madrid, three points off the top in third, play at Celta Vigo, who are 11th, on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time).

Martino has Gerard Pique back after the Spain defender was declared fit by club medical staff on Friday, Barca said on their website.

He missed the world and European champions' 1-0 win at home to Italy on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) due to a minor calf problem.

Pique's international teammate Andres Iniesta withdrew from the squad on Friday "for personal reasons" and has been replaced by Netherlands midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, Barca added. They did not explain the reasons for Iniesta's decision.

With an eye on Barca's packed calendar in March, including Wednesday's (Thursday, PHL time) Champions League last 16, second leg against Manchester City, Martino said he had decided to rest left back Jordi Alba for the Valladolid trip.

Alba was out for more than two months with a hamstring injury before Christmas and was briefly sidelined by a similar thigh problem last month.

Barca leads City 2-0 from the first leg.  - Reuters