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Lionel Messi will be out for up to eight weeks after suffering knee ligament damage in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Las Palmas on Saturday, the Catalan giants confirmed. “Tests have confirmed that Leo Messi suffered a torn internal collateral knee ligament. The estimated time out will be seven to eight weeks,” Barcelona said in a statement. Messi, 28, looks set to be sidelined for at least eight Barca games, as well as Argentina’s first four 2018 World Cup qualifiers, including a meeting a home to Brazil on November 13.

Moreover, he is now a huge doubt for the first El Clasico of the season away to Real Madrid on November 21. Barca face Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Getafe and Villarreal in La Liga before visiting the Bernabeu. The European champions host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday and will also have to do without Messi for back-to-back games against BATE Borisov.

Messi clashed with Las Palmas defender Pedro Bigas as he tried to turn the ball home inside the area and suffered a blow to his left knee in the process. He briefly returned to the field after receiving treatment, but was clearly unable to run freely before he was replaced by Munir El Haddadi. Video images then emerged of Messi limping heavily when he left hospital after undergoing tests.

It is the first serious injury Messi has suffered since a hamstring injury kept him out for the final two months of 2013.

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score his 500th goal as Real Madrid were frustrated in a 0-0 home draw with Malaga. Madrid had a host of chances to break the deadlock, but visiting goalkeeper Carlos Kameni was in inspired form to keep them at bay. Real had 31 attempts on goal and two strikes disallowed, one from Ronaldo in the eighth minute and one from Isco in stoppage time.

Malaga's Nordin Amrabat was sent off for a late elbow on Marcelo, but they were able to hold on for a point as Juanpi almost won it at the death and Ronaldo headed over from four yards in the final minute. Madrid went into the game top of the Primera Division after battling to a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday and were expected to increase their grip on the league against a Malaga side who had failed to score a single goal this season.

Villarreal are in a lofty position after beating Atletico Madrid today. Leo Baptistao haunted his parent club Atletico Madrid by scoring the only goal in a Villarreal victory at El Madrigal which took Marcelino's side top of the Primera Division. The Brazilian has not played for the Rojiblancos since September 2013 but made them regret letting him go out on loan to Villarreal by firing low into the corner after 14 minutes to earn the 1-0 win.

Atletico had an opportunity to go ahead of title rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid but came unstuck against an excellent Villarreal side, and created few notable chances to equalise. They remain on 12 points while Villarreal climb to the summit with 16 points.