Barcelona: La Liga Giant Faces Weeks Without Injured Lionel Messi

Real remain top of La Liga on 13 points but failed to seal a new record of consecutive wins, having equalled the 16 straight victories set by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010/11 on Sunday.

Victory against Atletico would have taken Barcelona to within a point of their rivals at the summit, with the momentum swinging very much in their favour. I have always said that with Messi we are stronger because he is the best, but we also have more than enough resources to overcome our opponents and that is the objective we have. “We haven’t yet been able to speak with him, but we want to know how serious the injury is”.

After drifting in and out of the game for the most-part, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi pulled up with an injury shortly after half-time.

But, after that minute, everything felt different.

However, the good news is that Messi’s injury will not end up with him missing any big games as Barcelona will face just three games, with trips to Sporting Gijon, Borussia Monchengladbach and Celta Vigo coming up before October’s global break all of them away from home.

An absence of that length will be bearable.

That is not simply because without Messi, Barcelona is just a little less formidable.

Ramos made amends right at the start of the second-half when he rose highest to head home James Rodriguez’s corner.

Barca signed Paco Alcacer as their fourth-choice striker from Valencia last month and the Spain worldwide could have a more prominent role, starting with the trip to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

He is expected be sidelined during the upcoming trips to Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo for La Liga matches and to Borussia Monchengladbach for the Champions League.

“These types of games are decided by fine details”.

And Enrique hopes his side can show similar resilience to avoid slipping further behind Real Madrid in the title race.

“Last year we also had an unfortunate situation but the team kept playing at a high level”, the coach added.

After the game, the Uruguayan had harsh words for Atletico defender Filipe Luis, who uploaded a picture on his Instagram page of his bloodied foot bearing stud marks from a clash with Suarez. We’ll have to wait to see the full extent of the injury.