The Argentinian will not be available when Real Madrid comes to town.

Barcelona's skipper Lionel Messi is set to sit out his side's all-important league clash with fierce rivals Real Madrid on October 28. The 31-year-old forward fractured his arm in Saturday's 4-2 win over Sevilla and will be sidelined for approximately three weeks, his club confirmed.

Lionel Messi, who assisted Philippe Coutinho for Barcelona's opening goal in the 2nd-minute and subsequently got on the scoresheet 10 minutes later, was replaced by Ousmane Dembele in the 26th minute.

This came after the five-time Ballon d'Or winner took a hard tumble on the ground after clashing with Sevilla's Franco Vázquez in an attempt to recover a loose ball. With Barcelona making preparations for a few upcoming difficult tests, Messi absence unquestionably comes as a massive blow. 

Firstly, the Catalans will miss their skipper when they welcome Inter Milan to the Camp Nou for their Matchday 3 clash in Group B of the UEFA Champions League. This will be followed by El Clasico on October 28.

For the first time since 2007, the dreaded encounter will be without the involvement of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese switched Real Madrid for Juventus this summer. Lionel Messi is also in line to sit out the Copa del Rey tie against Cultural Leonesa, as well as the trip to Rayo Vallecano in the domestic league.

The return fixture of the Champions League group game against Inter Milan can also be added to the list as it comes just three days after the aforementioned encounter. Nonetheless, optimism is high for Messi to mark his return in the league game against Real Betis on November 11.

Should that be the case, the Blaugrana ace should be fit and ready for the tough test when Atletico Madrid welcomes his side to the Wanda Metropolitano on November 24.