Monday 18 August 2014
Strikers expected to play alongside for the first time
Brazilian star striker Neymar has been cleared to play for the first time since suffering a broken vertebra in his back during the 2-1 victory against Colombia in the QuarterFinal of World Cup when Barcelona play Mexican side Club Leon on Monday.
Neymar could play for the first time with the club's new signing Luis Suarez as he is expected to make his Barcelona debut after being cleared to play in friendly matches last week by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, upholding the 4-month ban from competitive games.
Neymar missed out Brazil's further World Cup campaign which consisted of the disastrous 7-1 semi-final drubbing by Germany & the 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the 3rd place play-off on home soil after suffering the injury when he was kneed in the back by Juan Camilo Zuniga.
However, the 22-year-old revealed that had the impact of Zuniga's knee been centimetres higher, he could have been left paralyzed.
Argentine sensation Lionel Messi is also likely to get his first outing since the heartbreaking loss in the World Cup final to Germany on Monday as the Catalan Club finalize their pre-season build up to the start of La Liga when they host Elche on Sunday.
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