BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

Barcelona says Lionel Messi's recovery from a hamstring tear is on schedule, meaning he should be back on the pitch in January.

Barcelona says a club doctor examined Messi in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and found his left hamstring injury is "progressing well."

injury

The Spanish champion says Messi will go through more tests yesterday.

Messi, the four-time FIFA World Player of the year, hasn't played since November 10, when he sustained his third, and most serious, injury of the season.

Barcelona has lost two games without its star but maintains a share of the league lead along with Atletico Madrid.