MESSI HIGHLIGHTS AGUERO THREAT

Barcelona winger Lionel Messi believes his side will need to limit the influence of Argentinian compatriot Sergio Aguero when Atletico Madrid visit the Nou Camp on Sunday.

Aguero has been in breathtaking form this season, scoring five goals in Atletico's last four games, and Messi had nothing but praise for the young striker.

"He is unplayable, scoring goals and doing impossible things. He is capable of anything and it will be very difficult to stop him," Messi said.

Messi, who leads the Primera Liga scoring charts alongside his countryman, hopes Barca can cut off the supply line to Aguero.

"We need to work well as a team and try to make sure that he receives the least amount of balls possible," he said.

Messi expects an open and attack-minded clash on Sunday.

"Atletico are a great team. They like to play offensively and in that respect they are similar to us. They have very good players in midfield and attack, so it should be a very entertaining match," he said.

Messi will begin on the right-hand side of Barcelona's three-pronged attack, alongside Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho, who is likely to keep his place in the side despite some off-colour performances of late.

Coach Frank Rijkaard has a bigger dilemma in midfield.

Holding midfielder Yaya Toure is sidelined and the Dutch coach appears short of options to replace the Ivory Coast international.

Mexico defender Rafael Marquez has filled the defensive midfield role with aplomb in recent seasons, but has been ruled out for a month after picking up an injury in the Champions League game against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Brazil's Edmilson, another candidate, is also sidelined and Thiago Motta left the club in the summer to join Atletico.

In the absence of all of these players, Rijkaard will rely on his more attack-minded "three little men" (Xavi, Deco and Andres Iniesta) to share the defensive duties in midfield.

At the back, Carles Puyol and Gabi Milito have both shaken off knocks to be ready in time for Sunday's match.

Samuel Eto'o and Gianluca Zambrotta remain sidelined.

Barca are unbeaten in the Primera Liga this season, but sit two points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid in fourth place.

The Catalans were struggling for goals earlier in the campaign and could only draw away to Racing Santander and Osasuna, but have won their last five games, scoring 15 times in the process.

Following a disappointing start to the season, Atletico Madrid are also enjoying something of a purple patch.

Javier Aguirre's side have also strung together five consecutive wins in all competitions, scoring 17 goals without reply.

However, nine of those strikes came in a two-legged UEFA Cup qualifier against Turkish side Kayserispor and Aguirre knows his team will be in for a much tougher test on Sunday.

"Barcelona play the best football in the league and even with players missing will make things very difficult for us," he said.

Goalkeeper Leo Franco has recovered from injury and should return to the side, but Motta, Miguel De Las Cuevas and Luis Perea remain sidelined.

Atletico have an enviable record at the Nou Camp, having won two and drawn one of their last three matches.

Former Barca winger Luis Garcia hopes the form of Aguero can produce another upset on Sunday.

"We are a team that understands each other well and we can make things difficult for Barcelona. Let's hope that "Kun" (Aguero) can make the difference in the Nou Camp," he said.

Atletico are fifth in the table, three points behind Barca.