Pique optimistic of Messi fitness against Celta Vigo

Gerard Pique expects Lionel Messi to be fit for Barcelona's trip to Celta Vigo despite his foot injury.

Messi missed Argentina's friendly victories over El Salvador and Ecuador due to swelling on his right foot, but Pique expects the 27-year-old to return for his club this weekend.

"I'm optimistic about Messi," said the defender. "I spoke with him and I think he'll be able to play at Balaidos [Celta's ground]. 

"But it depends on how he feels this week. 

"It's the team doctors who have to decide. But from what I can gather, he'll be okay."

US senators want Russia removed as 2018 World Cup host

A group of US senators is asking FIFA to strip Russia of hosting the 2018 World Cup.

The bipartisan letter, dated March 31, was signed by 13 senators, including Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat, and Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, and cites the Ukraine crisis as a reason to bar Russia from staging the global showpiece.

The letter was sent to FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, with a copy also forwarded to the US Soccer Federation.

"With the goal of ending the crisis in Ukraine and ensuring a successful 2018 World Cup, we strongly encourage FIFA to deny the [Russian President Vladimir] Putin regime the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup and make preparations for an alternate host country," the senators wrote in a statement widely released to media outlets on Wednesday.

Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also signed the letter.

Pepe suffers thigh injury

Real Madrid are sweating on the fitness of Pepe after confirming that the centre-back has sustained a thigh injury.

The centre-back was absent for Portugal's 2-1 victory against Serbia in UEFA 2016 qualifying last Sunday.

Pepe subsequently returned to Madrid after being excused from the nation's friendly against Cape Verde, which ended in a surprise 2-0 defeat.

European champions Real announced Pepe's injury on Twitter and are set to monitor his progress.

Alaba faces seven-week absence

Bayern Munich's David Alaba faces seven weeks on the sidelines with knee ligament damage, the club have confirmed.

The Austria international has been diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament tear in his left knee, sustained during his country's friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Following a collision with Hoffenheim's Ermin Bicakcic, the versatile midfielder was substituted at half-time in Vienna and now faces a battle to feature for Pep Guardiola's side again this season.

Alaba will spend the next two weeks with his leg in a cast and adds to a Bayern injury list that currently includes dangermen Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

The 22-year-old's impending absence is unlikely to halt Bayern's charge towards a third consecutive Bundesliga title, but he will miss both legs of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Porto.

Alaba, who spent more than two months out earlier this season after partially tearing the medial ligament and damaging the meniscus in his right knee, is eager to return before the end of the campaign.

"I'm obviously very sad but I have a big goal: I want to be back at the season finale," he told Bayern's official website.

"I will recover well now and then give everything in rehab."

Thursday soccer best and worst defensive teams

According to Betexplorer

Best defensive teams

Team		G	Gls.	R	Next match	1	X	2
	Melbourne Knights	5	2	0.4	Melbourne Knights - Bentleigh Greens	2.40	3.34	2.56
	Zwickau	22	9	0.4	Bautzen - Zwickau	4.16	3.39	1.77
	Viborg	21	11	0.5	Viborg - Koge	1.47	3.80	6.85
	Inter Baku	24	13	0.5	Qarabag - Inter Baku	1.98	3.21	3.37
	Al Faisaly Amman	15	9	0.6	Al Faisaly Amman - Al Buqaa	2.11	3.01	3.24
	Internacional	13	8	0.6	Internacional - Ypiranga FC	1.30	4.41	9.11
	Sestri Levante	32	20	0.6	Novese - Sestri Levante	4.00	3.35	1.73
	Fano	28	18	0.6	Jesina - Fano	3.45	3.33	1.91
	Poggibonsi	28	18	0.6	Poggibonsi - Vivi Altotevere	2.01	3.04	3.35
	That Ras	15	10	0.7	That Ras - Al Ahli	1.97	3.09	3.53
	Castelli Romani	28	19	0.7	Castelli Romani - Palestrina	1.17	5.50	12.00
	Maceratese	28	19	0.7	Matelica - Maceratese	2.90	3.20	2.18
	Castiglione	31	21	0.7	Castiglione - Virtus Verona	1.56	3.50	5.00
	Ypiranga FC	13	9	0.7	Internacional - Ypiranga FC	1.30	4.41	9.11
	Sfaxien	21	15	0.7	Sfaxien - Gafsa	1.39	3.64	8.25
	Taranto	28	20	0.7	Sarnese - Taranto	3.45	3.30	1.87
	Huracan	31	22	0.7	Huracan - Villarreal B	1.82	3.29	3.77
	Erndtebruck	22	16	0.7	Gutersloh - Erndtebruck	3.24	3.65	1.88
	Qarabag	23	17	0.7	Qarabag - Inter Baku	1.98	3.21	3.37
	Oberlausitz	20	15	0.8	Oberlausitz - Cottbus II	1.65	3.98	3.90
	Atlético Madrid W	25	19	0.8	Atlético Madrid W - Oviedo Moderno W	1.17	6.00	11.00
	Viktoria Koln	26	20	0.8	Siegen - Viktoria Koln	4.19	3.46	1.74
	Sacilese	28	22	0.8	Sacilese - ArzignanoChiampo	1.86	3.30	3.62
	Ostia Mare	28	22	0.8	Viterbese - Ostia Mare	1.76	3.40	3.92
	Lugano	25	20	0.8	Schaffhausen - Lugano	2.89	3.23	2.26
	Al Jazeera Amman	15	12	0.8	Al Jazeera Amman - Shabab Al Ordon	1.82	3.27	3.86
	Teramo	32	26	0.8	Teramo - Tuttocuoio	1.33	4.27	8.05
	L Hospitalet	31	25	0.8	Cornella - L Hospitalet	2.13	3.16	2.95
	Tudelano	31	25	0.8	Tudelano - Socuellamos	2.15	3.20	2.88
	Bisceglie	28	23	0.8	Brindisi - Bisceglie	1.97	3.17	3.43

MORE STREAKS

Worst defensive teams

Team		G	Gls.	R	Next match	1	X	2
	Kolding BK	16	56	3.5	Ringkobing - Kolding BK	1.37	4.89	5.75
	Germania Schnelsen	24	79	3.3	Meiendorfer SV - Germania Schnelsen	1.33	5.09	6.06
	Varnsdorf U21	27	88	3.3	Varnsdorf U21 - Slavia Prague U21	5.13	4.87	1.40
	Nievenheim	23	70	3.0	Honnepel-Niedermormter -Nievenheim	1.44	4.52	5.06
	Selargius	28	84	3.0	Selargius - Astrea	2.78	3.00	2.38
	Vier-und Marschlande	25	72	2.9	Barmbek-Uhlenhorst - Vier-und Marschlande	1.29	5.43	6.51
	FT Braunschweig	25	70	2.8	FT Braunschweig - Goslarer	5.57	4.21	1.46
	Herlev	16	44	2.8	Hvidovre - Herlev	1.23	5.74	8.65
	Henstedt-Ulzburg	25	67	2.7	Altenholz - Henstedt-Ulzburg	1.72	3.96	3.60
	Svebolle	15	39	2.6	Nykobing - Svebolle	1.56	4.16	4.40
	Middelfart	16	40	2.5	Marienlyst - Middelfart	1.38	4.83	5.71
	Paloma	25	61	2.4	Rugenbergen - Paloma	1.78	3.76	3.49
	Kaiserslautern U19	20	47	2.4	Karlsruher U19 - Kaiserslautern U19	1.61	4.00	4.00
	Hertha Walheim	20	47	2.4	FC Viktoria 08 - Hertha Walheim	1.22	5.75	7.50
	Kjellerup	16	37	2.3	Kjellerup - Brabrand	2.37	3.74	2.40
	Hilden	23	53	2.3	Kapellen-Erft - Hilden	2.20	3.58	2.64
	Buxtehuder	24	54	2.2	Buxtehuder - Pinneberg	4.10	4.01	1.62
	Saarbrucken U19	20	45	2.2	Furth U19 - Saarbrucken U19	1.82	3.74	3.43
	Cottbus II	20	44	2.2	Oberlausitz - Cottbus II	1.65	3.98	3.90
	Dandenong Thunder	5	11	2.2	Pascoe Vale - Dandenong Thunder	1.86	3.49	3.55
	Pascoe Vale	5	11	2.2	Pascoe Vale - Dandenong Thunder	1.86	3.49	3.55
	Terracina	27	59	2.2	Sora - Terracina	1.40	4.33	6.00
	VfR Mannheim	24	52	2.2	VfR Mannheim - Freiburger	4.01	4.13	1.61
	Altenholz	25	54	2.2	Altenholz - Henstedt-Ulzburg	1.72	3.96	3.60
	Homberg	23	49	2.1	Krefeld-Fischeln - Homberg	1.50	3.96	5.05
	Baumberg	23	48	2.1	Baumberg - SW Essen	2.46	3.58	2.34
	Pfullendorf	24	50	2.1	Pfullendorf - Karlsruher II	3.29	3.68	1.87
	Varde	16	33	2.1	Varde - Jammerbugt	4.04	4.09	1.63
	Gentofte-Vangede	16	33	2.1	Gentofte-Vangede - Helsingor	5.35	4.71	1.42
	Ringkobing	16	33	2.1	Ringkobing - Kolding BK	1.37	4.89	5.75