Messi breaks arm as Barca regain lead
Berizzo under pressure after Bilbao winless run hits 7 games
MADRID, Oct 21, (AP): Barcelona ended their slump and regained the Spanish League lead but there was little to celebrate as Lionel Messi broke his right forearm and will be sidelined for three weeks.
Also, Real Madrid lost again while suffering its worst scoring drought.
Messi scored and walked off injured in the first half of Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Sevilla at Camp Nou stadium, while Real Madrid players and coach Julen Lopetegui were jeered off the field after they lost to Levante 2-1 at Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Messi was taken to a clinic, and Barcelona said he broke the radial bone. At the least, he will miss the Champions League match against Inter Milan on Wednesday, and the Clasico against Real Madrid next Sunday.
Messi was trying to reclaim the ball when he ran into the back of a defender and fell in the 17th minute. Trying to cushion his fall, his right elbow bent badly and he was in visible pain. Doctors wrapped his arm with bandages and the playmaker tried to continue but eventually had to be replaced.
Messi scored the team’s second goal with a shot from outside the area in the 12th, about 10 minutes after Phillipe Coutinho opened the scoring. Luis Suarez added the third by converting a second-half penalty kick.
Sevilla replied through Pablo Sarabia, Ivan Rakitic increased Barcelona’s lead in the 88th, and Sevilla netted again thanks to Luis Muriel in injury time.
Barcelona struggled more than the scoreline showed, but the result was enough to give Ernesto Valverde’s team a one-point lead over surprising Alaves, which defeated Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday.
Sevilla, which had won four in a row in the league, including 3-0 against Real Madrid, dropped to third place, two points off the lead.
Atletico Madrid, which drew at Villarreal 1-1, also was two back after nine matches.
Real Madrid were four points behind Barcelona, in fifth place.
Athletic Bilbao coach Eduardo Berizzo is under increasing pressure to turn things around for the Basque Country club after they drew 1-1 at Eibar in a regional derby on Sunday.
A former Celta Vigo and Sevilla manager, Berizzo took over Bilbao in the off-season. The Argentine got a win on his debut, but the team has yet to win in all seven Spanish League matches since.
Bilbao, who have a game in hand, are just one spot above the relegation zone. Eibar took the lead on a penalty converted by Charles in the 17th minute after a video review confirmed a foul by Inigo Martinez on Sergi Enrich.
Inaki Williams equalized for the visitors four minutes later at the end of a quick attack after Raul Garcia headed forward a long ball.
Also, Getafe won 2-1 at last-place Rayo Vallecano.