FC Barcelona’s Argentinian striker Leo Messi (C) passes Getafe’s goalkeeper Jordi Codina (R) to score a goal during the Spanish King’s Cup round of 16 second leg match at Coliseo Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe on Thursday. (EPA)
Lionel Messi scored twice, including one brilliant individual effort, in his first start of the year as Barcelona beat Getafe 2-0 in the second-leg of their King’s Cup last 16 tie to progress 6-0 on aggregate.
However, it was far from a perfect evening for the Catalans as Neymar had to be carried from the field after suffering a nasty looking right ankle sprain midway through the first-half.
A scan yesterday confirmed Neymar had damaged tendons in his right ankle and club medical staff estimated he would be sidelined for three to four weeks. “What a scare!” Neymar wrote on his Instagram account. “When I fell I thought of a lot of bad things. I thought it could have been a serious injury, I thought about my plans for 2014. “But Jesus, once again, was with me and it was just a scare. I wanted to thank all those that prayed for me. And don’t worry. I will do everything right and will be back in no time.”
With his side already leading 4-0 from the first-leg, thanks in part to two goals from Messi on his first appearance as a substitute after two months out, Martino made nine changes to the side that started today’s La Liga 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid.
Neymar was also making his first start of the year after recovering from a bout of gastroenteritis.
However, his return lasted only 23 minutes as he had to be helped off the field by two members of the Barca medical staff as he turned his ankle in attempting to cross the ball from the left side of the area. The visitors shrugged off the loss of the Brazilian, though, as Cristian Tello’s driven cross was turned in at the near post by Messi two minutes before half-time.
And the best was still to come from the diminutive Argentine as he danced past three Getafe challenges before rounding goalkeeper Jordi Codina and finishing from a tight angle for his fourth goal of the tie just after the hour mark.
Messi went on to complete the 90 minutes and Martino said he was now confident that his compatriot is now fully match fit.
“He was out for 60 days, but physically he feels good and you can see he is now ready to play the 90 minutes. It was just a matter of time until he did it.”
Martino also took the opportunity to hand Xavi Hernandez his 700th appearance for the club as he replaced Cesc Fabregas with 20 minutes remaining.
Messi should have rounded off his evening with a hat-trick on 85 minutes as he was played in with just Codina to beat, but the keeper made a fine save with his right leg to turn the ball behind for a corner.
It mattered little in the overall complexion of the tie, however, as Barca set up a meeting with Levante in the last eight.