Agony of victory
Iniesta’s serious injury overshadows Messi’s stellar display
BARCELONA: Andres Iniesta’s serious knee injury overshadowed another stellar performance by Lionel Messi, when the Barcelona forward scored a second goal in stoppage time to earn a 3-2 win at Valencia.
The hotly contested game on Saturday was marred both by Enzo Perez’s tackle that forced Iniesta off on a stretcher and a fan throwing a water bottle at Barcelona’s players while they celebrated Messi’s winner.
The bottle appeared to strike Neymar’s head and also impact other Barcelona players when it was tossed into their tight huddle.
The defending champions rose to the top of the Spanish League. Barcelona are one point ahead of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
The victory, however, came at a high price – an injury that will sideline Barcelona’s captain and key playmaker for at least six weeks.
Iniesta clutched his right knee and called out for help from the team doctors when he was cut down by Perez in the 12th minute.
“The worst news is Iniesta’s injury,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.
“But the team showed the desire it has. How we won says a lot about the spirit and character of this team.”
Iniesta’s knee appeared to buckle when he was hit by Perez’s aggressive tackle. He was clearly in pain and held a hand over his face when he was put on the stretcher and carried off. Ivan Rakitic replaced him.
The club issued a medical report saying Iniesta injured a ligament in his right knee, and the 32-year-old World Cup winner will be sidelined “for six to eight weeks”. As for Valencia, their sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch railed against the “absolutely lamentable” display of the referee after Barcelona snatched a controversial win at the Mestalla.
Messi converted a 94th-minute penalty in the bad-tempered match.
Valencia are likely to face action from La Liga authorities after Neymar was struck by a plastic bottle thrown from the crowd as the Barcelona players celebrated the winner.
However, Valencia were incensed that Barcelona’s opener was allowed to stand despite claims for offside and the home side were angered further when referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco didn’t send off Sergio Busquets before half-time.
“When Undiano Mallenco and his assistants see this match again they ought to be ashamed of having played such a part in a game that Valencia didn’t deserve to lose,” Pitarch thundered to BeIN Sports Spain.
“It is lamentable, absolutely lamentable that refereeing decisions prevented Valencia from taking a point or more from this match.”
Valencia coach Cesare Prandelli took charge of his first game at the Mestalla and nearly oversaw a huge upset as goals from Barcelona loanee Munir El Haddadi and Rodrigo overturned a Messi opener.
“I don’t like to talk about referees, but the images speak for themselves,” said Prandelli.
Luis Suarez’s equaliser set up a grandstand finish and Messi coolly slotted past Diego Alves from the spot after Suarez had been felled inside the area deep into stoppage time.