An assist and a goal in the opening 12 minutes it looked like business as usual for Lionel Messi as Barcelona took strides towards an important victory over Sevilla at the Camp Nou but a painful fall saw the captain leave the field in pain and it’s now been revealed that Messi has fractured his right arm.

Real Madrid were in need of a lift ahead of next week’s clásico following their earlier defeat and they got just that with the news that Messi will miss the crunch meeting next week.

In need of a win themselves after a four-game winless run in LaLiga, Barcelona were quick out of the traps against Sevilla and Messi at the heart of it. The Argentine maestro had picked up his Player of the month award before kick-off and rolled the ball into the path of Philippe Coutinho for the opener after only two minutes.

Soon after it was Messi cutting inside onto his left foot to bend in a characteristic second and then disaster struck. An awkward collision with Franco Vázquez saw Messi land on his arm and after lengthy treatment, the 31-year-old was replaced.

❗ [INJURY NEWS] Tests carried out on the first team player Leo Messi have confirmed that he has a fracture of the radial bone in his right arm. He will be out for approximately three weeks. #FuerzaLeo pic.twitter.com/kpNcspnfqo

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 20, 2018

Barcelona have now confirmed that Messi has fractured the radial bone in his right arm and will miss around three weeks, a run of fixtures that includes next week’s Champions League tie against Inter and the clásico with Real Madrid next Sunday.

Despite Messi’s injury, Luis Súarez extended the lead from the penalty spot and while Pablo Saravia’s deflected strike reduced the deficit while Sevilla looked to find a way back in, Ivan Rakitic volleyed a fine fourth.

Luis Muriel did bend in a second for Sevilla but Barcelona held on to secure a first win in five league games and put the Blaugrana a point clear of Alaves at the top of the table.