Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/685221
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 MAY 2016 49 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Sergio Ramos celebrates his goal with Gareth Bale Messi's pain eases, recovery time unclear - Argentina doctor LIONEL Messi, recovering from a bad knock to his back 10 days before Argentina's open- ing Copa America Centenario match, was feeling less pain on Saturday, team doctor Daniel Martinez said. "Messi is better, with less pain than last night," Martinez told reporters after Messi suffered bruising to his lower back and rib cage during Friday's 1-0 friendly win over Honduras. But Martinez added that he could not say how long Messi's recovery would take. "We've got to take it day-by- day... It's an area where it hurts to move normally, (like) get up, turn and cough," he was quoted as saying in the Buenos Aires sports daily Ole (www.ole.com. ar). Messi was kneed in the back by Honduras substitute Oliver Morazan during a warm-up game for the June 3-26 tour- nament in the United States played in the Argentine city of San Juan and had to be substi- tuted, walking off in pain in the 64th minute. He missed a light training ses- sion on Saturday and was not in any case going to travel with the rest of the squad directly to Santa Clara in California where Argentina meet Chile in their Group D opener on June 6. Messi was instead due to f ly to Barcelona, where he has to attend court in a tax evasion case on Thursday, before join- ing up again with the squad, though Martinez said if it was up to him he would advise him against travelling on Saturday. Argentina also face Bolivia and Panama at the tournament, which marks the centenary of the former South American Championship. Lionel Messi Real defeat Atletico Madrid in penalty shootout to win 11th European Cup REAL Madrid beat city rivals Atletico on penalties to win the Champions League in Milan in a dramatic and fiercely-fought match. Yannick Carrasco had scored an equaliser for Diego Simeone's side in the 79th minute to take the tie to extra-time after Sergio Ra- mos had given Real the lead early on with an opportunistic strike. But neither team could settle the con- test in the extra period as player began to go down with cramp, including Wales Ga- reth Bale, and both managers tried tactical switches to gain an advantage. Juanfran missed the crucial ninth penalty, giving Real their 11th European Cup.