Football: Injured Messi's injury as Barca climb to top with victory over Sevilla

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona have defeated a series of four games without a win in the Liga with a 4-2 home win over rivals Sevilla on Saturday to regain the top spot, but the Lionel talisman Messi's fractured his arm. three weeks.

The signing of the album, Philippe Coutinho, gave the Barca the ideal start by scoring a first shot in the top corner in the second minute, thanks to a deep pass from Messi.

Sevilla almost instantly returned to the post when Guilherme Arana hit the post, but Messi doubled the lead in the 12th minute by scoring a solo goal and a left foot shot in the opposite corner when he entered the surface.

Argentina was seriously injured moments later following a challenge from Franco Vazquez and left the field with a bandaged right arm.

A statement from the club revealed that the striker had suffered a break, having prevented him from playing five games in La Liga and Champions League, the most important being the 'Clasico' on Sunday at home against Real Madrid and the two games against Inter Milan.

"It's a huge loss," Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said of the injury to the club's top scorer and captain.

"We know what he gives us and what we miss when he is not there. We must take care of it and we will be ready. It is clear that we will see its absence, but we will face it and we have resources, even if we are going to face very difficult teams. "

The Catalans, who now have 18 points in nine games and a lead over Alaves and two over Sevilla, missed the momentum without Messi in the second half and it took a staggering double-stop from Marc- André ter Stegen to prevent Seville from shooting goal back.

A few moments after the German's exploits, Barca almost ended the match when Luis Suarez was replaced by a penalty kick after being blocked by Sevilla goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.

Sevilla midfielder Pablo Sarabia quickly scored a goal for the visitor, assisted by Barca defender Clement Lenglet, but former Sevilla skipper Ivan Rakitic scored Barca's fourth goal, refusing to celebrate the strike against his side. former club.

Sevilla's substitute, Luis Muriel, won 4-2 in stoppage after Ter Stegen made another amazing double save.

Valverde admitted that his side had been touched when Messi had been forced to leave.

"I will not deny that it has shaken us a bit and we have struggled to adapt. We played with 10 men for a while in the hope that he will recover. After their goal, we had trouble killing the match. "