Barca begins road trip without Messi

A Barcelona side missing injured Lionel Messi faces Sporting Gijon in the first of three away games in a week, as it battles to keep pace with La Liga leader Real Madrid on Saturday.

Messi suffered the recurrence of a groin strain in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid that will keep the five-time World Player of the Year sidelined for the next three weeks.

His absence could have a bigger impact on Argentina than Barca because the twotime world champion will be without its captain for World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.

However, Spanish champion Barca has three tricky obstacles to overcome in the next week as it heads also to Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday before another away trip to Celta Vigo next Sunday.

“Weallwishthathewaswith us. The team is stronger with him than without him, but these unexpected situations happen,” Barca captain Andres Iniesta said on Thursday.

“Squads win titles. Individuals help, but it is the squad as a whole that wins things.”

Without Messi, Barca’s other two star forwards Luis Suarez and Neymar will be expected to take on extra responsibility — just as they did in scoring 16 goals in the six league games Messi missed during a two-month injury layoff last season.

Sergio Busquets also came off early against Atletico due to the after-effects of a fever, but should be fit to start in Asturias.

Arda Turan is the favorite to replace Messi after deputizing ably on the other side of the Barca frontline when Neymar was absent at the start of the season because of his participation in the Rio Olympics.

One familiar face to Barca may not be available for Sporting due to a comical injury — on-loan Brazilian fullback Douglas injured his hip when sleeping on the team bus back from a 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Real Madrid’s bid to make La Liga history with a 17th straight win fell short in midweek as it was held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal.

Zinedine Zidane’s men still hold a three-point lead over Barca, but face an awkward trip to the Canary Islands to face Las Palmas before a huge Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

Madrid is also depleted by injury: Brazilian duo Marcelo and Casemiro have been ruled out for the next few weeks.