Lionel Messi headbutts Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa before scoring just seven minutes later as Barcelona beat Roma 3-0 in 'friendly'

Lionel Messi headbutts Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa before scoring just seven minutes later as Barcelona beat Roma 3-0 in 'friendly'

Lionel Messi threw an aggressive headbutt at Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa when the pair squared up after an altercation

A melee then ensued as the Argentine grabbed the French defender by the neck and pushed him away

They were both separated by Roma's Leandro Castan and referee Javier Estrada Fernandez before being booked

Messi then scored seven minutes later in the 41st minute after Neymar had opened the scoring in the 27th

Champions League final goalscorer Ivan Rakitic then netted the final goal at the Nou Camp in the 66th minute

Lionel Messi narrowly escaped being sent off after headbutting Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa as Barcelona's friendly with Roma became anything but friendly on Wednesday night.

Roma knew they were in for a frustrating evening at the Nou Camp chasing the shadows of the European champions and after going 1-0 down to Neymar's opener, French international Mapou lost his temper with Messi leaning his head in towards the Barcelona No 10 and making clear contact.

Messi responded by butting the French defender and grabbing him by the throat. The Spanish referee Javier Estrada Fernandez could easily have sent both players off - Mapou for the original aggression and Messi for the retaliation but instead showed the pair yellow cards and the game continued 11 against 11.

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