Messi scores twice in return from broken arm

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was unable to deliver a win in his first game back from a broken arm.

Messi's penalty in the second half and tap-in in the 92nd minute were mere consolations in a 4-3 defeat to Real Betis at Camp Nou on Sunday.

It's a stunning result for the visitors, who had only scored eight goals in their first 11 matches of the La Liga season.

Barcelona had gone 4-1-0 in Messi's absence, only dropping points away to Inter in the Champions League. But they weren't so fortunate against a plucky Betis side that took the lead early and never lost grip.

Messi hadn't played since fracturing his right arm in a 4-2 win over Sevilla on Oct. 20. He was included in manager Ernesto Valverde's Champions League squad earlier in the week, but failed to get medical clearance.

Messi converted a clean penalty to reduce Betis' lead to 2-1 in the 68th minute, and made it 4-3 in second-half stoppage time after finishing off a sweeping move.

Summer signing Malcom, who arrived from Bordeaux for an initial €41 million, also earned his first La Liga start for Barcelona after scoring in the 1-1 draw versus Inter. He managed just a single shot off target before making way for substitute Munir El Haddadi in the 57th minute.