Messi Returns from 2-Month Injury with A Brace Against Getafe
Lionel Messi marked his return from a near two-month injury absence by coming off the bench to score two late goals as Barcelona beat Getafe 4-0 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
While Cesc Fabregas also scored twice, the atmosphere at the far-from-capacity Camp Nou only picked up with Messi’s entrance as a substitute in the 64th minute and The Argentina forward showed no after-effects from a torn left hamstring.
“I felt good in training and even if they checked me thoroughly, once you get on the field it’s totally different,” Messi said. “Physically I felt good, I didn’t feel any discomfort in my muscle.
“I played through injury,” he said of the buildup to his 59-day absence, when he was bothered by various problems. “But I did well to get through all of this. And now I’m motivated to make this a great year.”
“Messi’s career is like a movie script,” Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said. “When you think he’s down, he scores goals within just two or three minutes. His game was like a summary of his entire career here.”
Messi slotted home Martin Montoya’s lay-off inside the area on the stroke of stoppage time before capping a typical run through the opponent’s defence with a rising shot into the back of the net moments later.
Pedro Rodriguez found Fabregas inside the area with a well-placed cross to head home the ninth-minute opener, and Fabregas later doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in front of 39,299 fans at the 100,000-capacity stadium.
Barcelona was without forward Neymar because of a stomach bug. The game was watched by the team’s former coach Tito Vilanova, who showed the effects of his cancer treatment.
In other last 16, first-leg matches, last-place Real Betis set aside its Spanish league woes to beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at home, while second-division side Alcorcon also started with a 1-0 home victory against Espanyol.
Racing Santander drew 1-1 against Almeria in a tension-filled matchup marked by player protests and the director’s box being stormed by spectators.
On Thursday, Real Madrid plays Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano faces Levante.
