Barcelona suffer another injury setback as Lionel Messi is set to miss a few weeks with a groin strain.
After a hard fought match at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw. In that match, Barcelona lost another player due to injury and not just any regular player either. Lionel Messi, who has been down the injury path over the last few seasons, suffered a groin strain in the second half of the match. A challenge from Diego Godin left Messi unable to continue after 58 minutes.
“To lose Messi means that football loses,” Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said after the 1-1 draw with Atletico. “With Messi we are stronger, but we will continue being strong.” Luis Enrique is right when saying Barca can weather the storm for a few weeks in La Liga play. Messi missed a few months with a knee injury and the team responded nicely. However, Messi will be really missed for the Champions League and World Cup Qualifying matches he would play in if healthy.
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Messi is set to miss matches against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Peru and Paraguay (for Argentina in World Cup Qualifying). He will also miss 3 domestic matches (including the next one against Sporting Gijon) if the 3 week timetable is correct. While some of these matches are winnable, Barca must take their opponents seriously.
Barca will have to look to Neymar, Luis Suárez, and Arda Turan to step up and fill the void of Messi’s absence. However, it isn’t just limited to those three attackers because Barca has many more attacking options. The new signings, Paco Alcácer and Andre Gomes, will also have to play well while Messi rests.
Overall, this injury is a big blow to Barcelona’s attack and Messi’s presence will be missed dearly. A lot of the new signings will have to step up in Messi’s absence. Neymar and Suárez, however, are the big names and they have to step up in big situations now. Luis Enrique has more lineup shuffling to do now with Messi and Samuel Umtiti injured. Once again, Barca is capable of weathering the storm. However, if Barca isn’t up to the task, their title chances in all competitions will start to suffer. Hopefully, Messi makes a full recovery and comes back to his very best.