How Lionel Messi was smashed in face by Chris Smalling during Champions League quarter-final match

Lionel Messi was left covered in blood after being clattered by Chris Smalling during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals encounter at Old Trafford.

The Barcelona forward was smashed in the face by the trailing arm of the Manchester United centre-back after the pair challenged for the ball.

Smalling crashed into the Argentine with his shoulder before flying past him at speed, reports the Mirror.

His arm then caught the Barcelona star in the face, knocking him to the ground and causing his nose to bleed.

Messi spent some time on the ground as medics came on to offer their assistance.

The Argentine was then patched up and made his way to the touchline before the referee waved him back on after play resumed.

It doesn’t appear that Messi suffered any serious facial damage, despite the gruesome nature of the injury.

Messi had earlier played a key role in Barcelona’s opening goal – despite an initial bad touch.

Messi ran onto an Arthur pass and would have been clean through on goal had he got it right.

Photo Credit: Daily Star