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Andres Iniesta: 'Lionel Messi accepted bench role'

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta insists that Lionel Messi 'was not angry' at being left out of the starting XI for Saturday's La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has said that Lionel Messi fully accepted Luis Enrique's decision to leave him out of the starting XI for Saturday's trip to Atletico Madrid.

Messi missed a training session on Friday due to the birth of his second son and had also been over in the United States with the Argentine national team.

Messi ultimately came off the bench to secure all three points for the Catalan outfit and Iniesta has insisted that there was no problem in the dressing room.

"He's not angry at being left out. It's normal after the journey and everything that's happened over the last few days. Ultimately, it's the work of everyone that helps the team go forward," Iniesta told reporters.

"Leo is a unique player, he makes a difference and today he did it again. I'm very happy for him and the team.

"We know that games here are always more difficult than normal. We matched the intensity of Atletico when we didn't have the ball and with the ball we played very well. I think we played a very, very complete match."

Barcelona have won all three of their La Liga games in the new campaign.

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Lionel Messi celebrates scoring to put Barcelona 2-1 up over Atletico Madrid on September 12, 2015
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano124441313016
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
16Leganes122551216-411
17Getafe12174810-210
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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