La Liga: Lionel Messi dropped to Barcelona bench for the first time this season

ByEurosport

Updated 07/11/2020 at 14:56 GMT

Lionel Messi starts on the bench in La Liga for the first time since September 2019. The goalscoring responsibility looks to fall on the shoulders on Antoine Griezmann against Real Betis on Saturday afternoon. The 2018 World Cup winner with France has scored just once this season. It is big news with Messi benched.

Lionel Messi has been dropped to the bench for the first time this season by boss Ronald Koeman ahead of Barcelona's league clash with Real Betis.

Messi has played every minute of the 2020/21 La Liga season, but Barca will take on Betis looking to end their four-game winless run without their star forward in the starting XI.

The Argentina international has scored four goals, all of them penalties, this season.

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TV3 report he has a small ankle problem, but Barcelona have not confirmed he has any injury.

An injury would make him a doubt for Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.

Follow our live updates of Barcelona v Real Betis in La Liga

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