Barcelona lost lionel Messi to injury and a chance to beat a title rival on Wednesday, when it was held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league.
Messi gingerly walked off the Camp Nou pitch in the 58th minute, just moments before Atletico substitutes Angel Correa and Fernando Torres went on and linked up to equalize. The defending champions said Messi will be sidelined for three weeks with a groin strain.
"With leo Messi out, football loses, we all lose," Barcelona coach luis Enrique said.
The night couldn't have started better for Barcelona, after seeing Real Madrid's hopes of breaking its Spanish league record for consecutive wins dashed by a 1-1 draw with Villarreal.
Barcelona was in control after Ivan Rakitic broke through Atletico's staunch defense in the 41st with a header from Andres Iniesta's cross. But match quickly changed course when Messi came up lame following a sprint to fight for a ball with Diego Godin. The Argentina star grimaced as he touched his right thigh. After walking gingerly for a few minutes, he sat on the turf, pulled out his shin guards and unlaced his boots.
Torres' glancing touch of a pass left Correa clear to rifle a low shot off the post and into the net in the 61st.
league leader Real Madrid leads Sevilla by two points. Barcelona is three behind.