Copa del Rey Wrap: Messi returns as Barca win
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) vies with Getafe's Argentinian midfielder Lacen (C) and Getafe's midfielder Juan Antonio Rodriguez (R) during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) football match Barcelona vs Getafe at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
Messi – who had not played for Barca since limping off in the first half of a 4-1 La Liga win against Real Betis on November 10 – was introduced in the 64th minute for Andres Iniesta in the round of 16 clash.
And he marked his comeback with two goals, making him likely to start for the Catalan giants in their La Liga blockbuster at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Ruben Castro scored the game’s only goal with a firm header, as the bottom-placed Betis won for the first time since December 6.
Second-tier Alcorcon beat Espanyol 1-0 thanks to Dani Pacheco’s late goal and Racing Santander and Almeria played out a 1-1 draw.
