Messi stretchered off as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid
Published:Barcelona’s achievement in ending a trip to the Vicente Calderon to face Atletico Madrid with a rare three points was sullied somewhat by the sight of Lionel Messi being stretched off in injury time.
The Ballon d’Or winner, who opened the scoring in the first half of the champions’ 2-1 victory in the capital, was stretched off nursing what appeared to be an ankle injury after a collision with Czech international Tomas Ujfalusi, who was sent off in the aftermath.
The Argentine genius is the 3/1 favourite to be Champions League top goalscorer after striking twice against Panathinaikos last week but if his injury turns out to be as serious as it looked and he is ruled out of several group matches, the market may be turned on its head.
Next in line is his Barcelona teammate David Villa, who also found the net in that clash with the Greek side, at 9/2 and he’s followed by Real Madrid duo Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored for the first time this season in his club’s 2-1 triumph over Real Sociedad.
Ronaldo can be backed at 10/1. See the full Champions League top goalscorer market.
