Mature show Messi sidelined because of injury, no recovery timeline given
In Hazard and Bale’s absence, the 19-year-old striker along with Rodrygo put Real back on top
almost unthinkable that Atletico would play their rivals in a contest of first against second in La Liga but that could now be the setting this weekend, depending on Sevilla and Real Sociedad’s results on Thursday.
La Real beat Atletico, who were then held to a goalless draw by Celta Vigo, but by far the deeper sense of gloom had engulfed Zidane’s side, after they were humbled 3-0 by Paris Saintgermain in the Champions League. That was Real’s worst defeat under Zidane as coach and prompted questions about the Frenchman’s future, with Jose Mourinho available and seemingly waiting in the wings.
Instead, back-to-back victories for the first time since Zidane came back in March have lifted the malaise.
HOME LOSS FOR PSG
PARIS: Paris Saint-germain slumped to its first home defeat in the French league in 16 months by losing 2-0 to Reims on Wednesday. Hassane Kamara headed in the first-half opener for Reims, which clinched victory with an acrobatic volley from Boulaye Dia that crept inside the post in second-half stoppage time.
A second league loss of the season ended a four-match winning streak for PSG, who stayed top of Ligue 1 after seven games but were joined on 15 points by Angers after their 2-0 win at Toulouse. Already missing Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, PSG lost another striker to injury when Eric-maxim Choupo-moting went off late in the first half. PSG coach Thomas Tuchel paid the price for heavily rotating his lineup against the opponent.
Rachid Alioui scored from a free kick in the 88th minute and then again in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Angers, who are the surprise of the season in France.
SALAH ANGRY
Mohamed Salah appears to have again fallen out with Egypt Football Association (EFA) after the country’s votes for FIFA’S player of the year awards were deemed invalid and therefore did not count towards the striker’s overall tally. Lionel Messi received the award.
Salah removed any reference to Egypt from his official Twitter profile in the wake of the awards ceremony and his Twitter bio now reads “Footballer for Liverpool FC”.
“Whatever they do to try to change my love for Egypt, they will not succeed,” Mohamed Salah, who has previously clashed with the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) over image rights, said. BARCELONA,SPAIN: Barcelona said on Thursday that Lionel Messi would be sidelined because of a muscle injury picked up in the first half against Villarreal in a Spanish league match on Tuesday. The club said Messi had a left abductor injury but did not give a timeline for his recovery.
He had previously been out with a calf injury sustained on August 5 and Barcelona have not indicated when they expect their captain to return from his latest setback.
“First team player Leo Messi has a strain in the adductor of his left thigh,” a club statement read. “He is out and his recovery will dictate his availability.”
Messi is expected to miss his team’s visit to Getafe in La Liga on Saturday.
Barcelona then play at home to Inter Milan in the Champions League next Wednesday before hosting Sevilla in the league four days later.
They will hope to have the 32-year-old back as soon as possible, particularly after a rocky opening to the season that has included only three wins from seven matches in all competitions.
After recovering from his calf problem, Messi made substitute appearances against Borussia Dortmund and Granada before being deemed ready to start against Villarreal.
He set up the opening goal, providing the cross for Antoine Griezmann to head in after six minutes. Despite Messi going off at the interval, Barca secured a comfortable 2-1 victory at Camp Nou.