Lionel Messi out for 3 weeks as Barcelona draw with Atletico Madrid

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique told reporters that not only will the team “lose” without its star player but the sport in general will lose as well.

Lionel Messi was forced off with the apparent recurrence of a groin injury as Atletico Madrid came from behind to hold Barcelona 1-1 at the Camp Nou yesterday.

The Barcelona talisman is also expected to miss out the upcoming Champions League tie against Borussia Monchengladbach as well as trips to Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo.

Prior to the Uruguay game on September 1, Barcelona had warned Argentina that Messi had a left adductor problem, but he played in the World Cup qualifier and scored the game’s only goal.

Messi had earlier missed global duty soon after his return to the national squad with the same injury.

“Now we have to look for other solutions”, said Enrique.

Sergio Busquets was first to limp off before Messi went down to the consternation of the Camp Nou.

Unbeaten Sevilla, 1-0 winners over city rivals Real Betis on Tuesday, are two points behind Real Madrid after five matches.

“Messi is Messi. We all know what he can bring to this team”, Zidane said on Friday. We will try to take care of him, but the pain persists.

Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann sought to take the game to Barcelona in the early going after the half-time break, forcing Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make a stop on one occasion and lofting a ball harmlessly into the stands on his second try. Madrid continue to lead Barca by three points at the top of the table with Atletico a further point back in fourth. No more scoring, so Zinedine Zidane’s 16-game win streak is over.

However, in the end both settled for a point which keeps them within touch of Real.

Luis Enrique could also replace Messi with midfielder Rafinha, giving more freedom up front to Neymar and Suarez, or with newly signed forward Paco Alcacer, which would change the team’s tactics.

“It seems really unusual that they make him play every game with the problems that he has”.

“The reality is that we are all looking for what is best for Messi and all the players at our club”. It cancelled out Bruno Soriano’s penalty at the end of the first half, and though Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane brought Lucas Vazquez for Gareth Bale and Alvaro Morata for Karim Benzema, it did not spark a victor.