Barcelona 2-1 Las Palmas: Luis Suarez double takes champions top... but injured Lionel Messi could be out for EIGHT WEEKS

• Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga with a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas at the Nou Camp
• Lionel Messi was forced off with a knee injury after 10 minutes and could be sidelined for up to eight weeks
• Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez opened the scoring with an angled header on 25 minutes 
• The Uruguay striker doubled the Catalan's lead with his second goal from Munir's through ball
• Brazilian sensation Neymar ballooned a second half penalty high over the crossbar
• Viera Ramos scored a late consolation goal for the visitors 

By Pete Jenson

Published: 11:05 EST, 26 September 2015 | Updated: 16:24 EST, 26 September 2015

Barcelona beat Las Palmas at the Camp Nou on Saturday thanks to a Luis Suarez brace but lost Lionel Messi to a left knee injury that could keep him out for eight weeks.

The four-times Ballon d’Or winner was taken straight to hospital and tests revealed the extent of the injury could even mean he misses the first Clasico of the season when Barça visit Real Madrid on November 21.

Messi sustained his injury after just three minutes when he went past Las Palmas defender Pedro Bigas and caught his left knee on the defender as his got his shot away. 

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez leaps in the air after opening the scoring in the 2-1 victory over Las Palmas at the Nou Camp 

The Uruguay international acknowledges the home support after doubling Barcelona's lead with his second goal of the game

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was forced off with an injury after only 10minutes and could be ruled out for eight weeks

Javi Varas in the Las Palmas goal made the save but Barcelona fans were more concerned that Messi had stayed down injured. He got back to his feet and carried on playing but by the eighth minute he was down again and this time he could not carry on and Munir El Haddadi replaced him.

He was taken straight to the nearby Cruz Blanca clinic for test on the left knee and hobbled out 40 minutes later with tests having revealed ligament damage that will sideline him for between six and eight weeks.

Barcelona meet Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday and Sevilla in the league next weekend and with Pedro sold and summer signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal not available until January because of the Fifa imposed ban on new signings Barcelona face an injury crisis of the sort they dreaded at the start of the season.

If Messi has to miss the full eight weeks he could also miss the season’s first Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 21. 

The emphasis will now be on Neymar and Suarez to ensure Barcelona don’t miss Messi and Suarez certainly did that in this encounter scoring the goals that won the game.

He got his first when Sergio Roberto’s cross from the right hung invitingly in the air for him and climbed above Las Palmas’ defence to power a header past Varas and make it 1-0.

Barcelona were not having it all their own way and Sergio Araujo forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a smart save but Barca had scored in the first half for the first time this season and now had the upper hand. When Suarez crossed from the left Neymar should have made it two but his volley was wayward and no problem of Ter Stegen.

Ten minutes into the second half Barcelona doubled their lead and it was Suarez again. Munir crossed from the right and when Busquets let the ball run, Suarez put his foot through it finding the top corner of Varas’ goal.

The Argentina international had Barcelona's first attempt on goal but his shot was blocked by Las Palmas keeper Javi Varas

Varas checks to see if Messi is alright after the Barcelona forward goes down injured in the first half

Barcelona team-mates crowd around Messi - who was reportedly taken to hospital with a knee injury

Messi grimaces as he is led off the field before being taken to hospital for a scan on his knee

Brazilian sensation Neymar holds the net after missing an opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet

Neymar watches as Suarez wheels away after opening the scoring with an angled header on 25 minutes

The Uruguay international salutes the home crowd after opening the scoring in the first half

He also won the penalty for what should have been the third goal. It was harsh on defender Alcaraz who was adjudged to have handled as he tried to clear from the former Liverpool forward. The ball appeared to strike him first on the thigh before brushing his hand.

Neymar stepped up for the spot kick but blazed the ball over in much the same way as Messi had done with the last penalty kick the team had won. Strange as it may sound in his multi-million euro squad Luis Enrique doesn’t seem to have anyone confident and competent from 12 yards at the moment.

That will not be his biggest concern however. Messi’ absence will test Barcelona.

Injuries and defensive rickets are an on-going problem and when Mascerano gave the ball away on 89 minutes allowing Jonathan Viera to send a shot that deflected off of Gerard Pique past Ter Stegen to make it 2-1 it made for a nervous final few minutes. It could be a long two months without Messi.

Suarez consoles team-matte Neymar after the Brazilian skied his second half penalty over the bar

Las Palmas keeper Javi Varas dives in vain as Suarez's shot finds the top corner to make it 2-0 to Barcelona

The Barcelona forward celebrates with team-mate Sergi Roberto after scoring his second goal of the afternoon

Neymar leaps on to Suarez's back to celebrate the Uruguay international's second goal in the 2-1 victory

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