The Barcelona ace had been expected to miss the Clasico but the Blaugrana president insists the Argentine could be available for the trip to the Bernabeu

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says star forward Lionel Messi is on course to be fit to face Real Madrid on November 21.

Messi suffered a knee injury in the win over Las Palmas at Camp Nou on September 26 and was ruled out of action for six-to-eight weeks.

However, it was reported at the start of the month that the Argentina captain was a week behind schedule in his recovery programme and that he had no chance of making the first Clasico of the season.

Bartomeu, though, insists Messi has every chance of being available for selection for the top-of-the-table clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I hope he can play as his recovery is within the timeframe we had set ourselves," he is quoted as saying by Marca.