Lionel Messi injured, out for three weeks

BARCELONA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 21: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona reacts injured on the pitch during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on September 21, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

BARCELONA and Atletico Madrid played to a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp in La Liga on Wednesday night, a game in which Lionel Messi went off injured.

There were few chances in an opening 15 minutes dominated by Barca possession and an Atleti defence unwilling to give them any opening, but both number 10s managed to get effort on target, with Lionel Messi have a dip from long range before Yannick Ferreira Carrasco thumped one straight at Marc-André ter Stegen in goal.

As Barca’s intricate passing looked incapable of breaking down Atleti, Andres Iniesta went back to basics and whipped a delicious cross into the box, and Ivan Rakitic made the most of it to head the Catalans into the lead five minutes before the break.

The second half started with Antoine Griezmann getting a couple of shots on target that required safe hands from ter Stegen, before Messi was forced off having seemingly pulled a groin muscle.

The hour mark saw the introduction of Angel Correa in place of Kevin Gameiro, and a mere minute later the Argentine was able to wriggle his way through the Barca defence with some quick feet and a slip from Javier Mascherano, and the substitute tucked away the chance to draw Atleti level, while fellow substitute Fernando Torres earned the assist.

Neymar was not shy to try his luck for a winner, and came close in the 65th minute with an arrowed shot towards the bottom corner that needed Oblak to touch it round, before looking to curl one into the top corner that was deflected wide off the head of defender Stefan Savic in the 75th minute.

Barcelona remain three points behind leaders Real Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Villarreal earlier in the evening, while Atleti are a point further back.

Wednesday’s La Liga Results

Real Madrid 1-1 Villarreal
Celta de Vigo 2-1 Sporting Gijon
Real Sociedad 4-1 Las Palmas
Granada 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid