Big Blow: Lionel Messi Suspended For Barcelona’s Next La Liga Game
Mar 20, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Lionel Messi picked up a yellow card in the 86th minute of Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Valencia on Sunday.
The Argentine was booked for protesting to Hernandez Hernandez and as a result will be suspended for the tip to Granada after the international break.
Missing that trip south on Apr. 2, though, means he will be free to face Sevilla at Camp Nou three days later in the league.
Gerard Pique was also one caution from a ban but did force the issue against Valencia and will be available for Granada.
He is therefore at risk of missing the Sevilla game if he plays and is booked in Andalucia.
Messi scored twice as Barca beat Valencia at Camp Nou, with Luis Suarez and Andre Gomes also on target.
Luis Enrique heaped yet more praise on Messi after the Argentine’s brace in Barcelona’s latest win on Sunday took him past 40 goals for the eighth consecutive season.
The Barca superstar scored from the penalty spot at the end of the first half and added his second after the break, firing home from inside the area after receiving the ball from Javier Mascherano.
Luis Suarez had earlier equalised for Barcelona, who fell behind to an Eliaquim Mangala header, with the Valencia defender then sent off for a second yellow card for hauling down the Uruguayan inside the area.
Munir El Haddadi, on loan at Valencia from Barcelona, had then made it 2-2, but Messi and then Andre Gomes’ first goal for his new club sealed the three points.
“Amazing,” Luis Enrique said in his postmatch news conference when asked to once again put into words just how special Messi is.
“He’s broken all of the records and he will keep on breaking them. What a wonder to be able to enjoy him.
“His numbers are out of everyone’s reach. Messi’s numbers are impossible for anyone who is not him. We will miss them in the future.”