Messi to miss season opener Messi scored 51 goals in 50 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions in 2018-19 but will miss the start of this season because of a calf injury. The Argentina international has not trained ahead of Friday's game at San Mames and Valverde said: "We are not going to take risks with any player, even less with Leo. "He hasn't trained or played with the team. We will wait a while but his recovery process is going well." Friday's game will be broadcast on ITV after the broadcaster agreed a continuation of their La Liga partnership to screen the Spanish top flight on terrestrial TV this season.