Incombustible Lionel Messi: Should Barça star have a rest this week?

Luis Enrique faces a small dilemma as he prepares his Barcelona side for two matches this week: How much should he rotate against Getafe and Cordoba? And the million dollar question: Is it time for Lionel Messi to take a break?

Barça's boss avoided speaking about it fully on Tuesday. "The facts speak for themselves," he said, adding that managers "have to take decisions depending on the circumstances". But what are Messi's circumstances?

THE STATS SPEAK

Messi, the leader of the team and a player in exceptional form, is a tricky subject. The Argentine has not been out of the side (excluding the Copa del Rey) since he was left on the bench at Anoeta. It's well known about the fall out between Luis Enrique around that time, as Jeremy Mathieu confirmed. 

The 27-year-old wants to play in every game and many will argue that is part of his greatness, that he can 'actively rest' during matches. In any case, his numbers are conclusive...

After the derby win over Espanyol and with five league games to go, Messi has played 2,925 minutes in La Liga 2014-15; the same as in the whole of 2013-14. 

In all competitions, he has missed three Copa matches and has played in 48 of Barcelona's 51 official matches. To put it another way, he has missed 270 minutes in the cup, 45 in the league and 27 in the Champions League. Barça have competed in 4,590 minutes of football. 

Only Claudio Bravo, who hasn't missed a minute in the league, has registered more La Liga minutes: 2,970. Busquets, who comes third, has played 687 less minutes than the genius from Rosario -- a genius whose minutes have included 36 goals and 16 assists.

AND THE REST?

It's obvious that Barça's aim has to be to arrive at the Bayern Munich match in the best possible condition. Especially keeping in mind that Josep Guardiola's side could have several players back from injury by then. 

Real Madrid are two points behind Barça in the league, though, and Lionel Messi and Co. cannot down their tools, even if Madrid do have to play against Valencia and Sevilla. 

The absence of Jordi Alba after his red card against Espanyol means there will be a change at left-back. Jeremy Mathieu could come in there, although Thomas Vermaelen, fit again, and Adriano are also options. 

Meanwhile, in midfield, Ivan Rakitic and Xavi may come into the side. They were both substitutes in the Catalan derby. 

And then comes Luis Enrique's attacking quandary. Luis Suarez has been taken off in recent games since Neymar showed his anger when he was sacrificed against Sevilla. 

Has the moment now arrived for Leo Messi to miss some minutes against Getafe? Perhaps we should reference back to Luis Enrique's phrase: "The facts speak for themselves..."