Messi goes off injured as Barca held by Atletico

BARCELONA: Barcelona failed to capitalise on Real Madrid dropping points against Villarreal as the La Liga champions were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid yesterday, while talisman Lionel Messi limped off with a groin injury.

Ivan Rakitic nodded Barca ahead in the 41st minute but the home side lost control after the break after an injury to midfield lynchpin Sergio Busquets and Angel Correa fired in the equaliser in the 61st, shortly after Messi had come off.

“Leo Messi has torn the groin muscle in his right leg. He will be out of action for approximately three weeks,” Barcelona officials said.

Earlier yesterday, Real’s 100% start to the season came to an end after the 1-1 draw.

Real remain top of La Liga on 13 points.

Sevilla are second on 11 points, Barcelona third on nine points while Atletico are fourth, on eight points.

Barca had plenty of possession in the first half but Atletico, who knocked them out of the Champions League last season, forced them into tight spaces and constricted their ability to create openings.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game and we’d be attacking a team that sat back and worked hard.

They gave us no space and made everything more complicated,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.

Messi was denied by Jan Oblak in one of few chances in a tight first half but Rakitic broke free of Atletico’s clutches to put Barca in front.

A lapse of concentration from Barca defenders Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique allowed Atletico substitute Correa to latch on to a through ball from Fernando Torres and fire in off the post.

Barca had 29 minutes to find a winner without Messi, and despite chances for Pique and Neymar, Atletico held firm.

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo spurned two early chances in a lacklustre first half by Real, who allowed Villarreal opportunities at the other end.

Villareal captain Bruno Soriano gave his side the lead on the stroke of halftime with a boldly chipped penalty after Sergio Ramos had handled in the area, although the Real captain made amends by equalising in the 48th minute. – Reuters