Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has said Lionel Messi's recovery from a groin injury remains on track, while centre-back Samuel Umtiti is inching closer to a return to first-team action.
Messi has been out of action since being taken off injured in the second half of Barca's draw with Atletico Madrid in September and missed the recent wins against Sporting Gijon and Borussia Monchengladbach.
"I can give you the normal information on a player who's recovering," Luis Enrique said when asked for an update on the Argentine's fitness.
"He's improving. I think it's nine days he's been injured now and things are progressing according to schedule. He will return when he is fully fit and I will tell you when the time comes."
It is the second time this season he has ran into problems with his groin and he will once again be absent on Sunday when the Blaugrana travel to Celta Vigo in La Liga. He will also miss Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Peru and Paraguay.
Barca originally estimated that Messi would be sidelined for three weeks, with the game against Deportivo La Coruna on Oct. 15, which precedes Manchester City's visit in the Champions League, targeted as the match for his comeback.
Umtiti is also expected be missing when Barca go to Balaidos this weekend. The France defender took a knock on his knee in training in the build up to the Atletico game and has not played since.
However, Luis Enrique said Umtiti was able to train on the pitch on Saturday and has now entered the final phase of his recovery process.
"It's the same as Leo, although obviously [Umtiti] is a bit further ahead with his recovery," he added.
"He's back training on the pitch. You'll see when he's ready to play again. It's always the same at the end of the recovery process, it's about a player getting back to full fitness and that's dependent on the individual."