Lionel Messi set to miss Barcelona’s next three games with thigh injury including Champions League clash with Inter Milan
- Lionel Messi was withdrawn in Barcelona’s win over Villarreal on Tuesday night
- It was the Argentine’s first start of an injury-disrupted campaign so far
- Barca confirm their star man suffered a thigh injury in the first-half
- Reports in Spain claim that Messi will miss Barcelona’s next three games
Lionel Messi looks set to miss Barcelona’s crunch Champions League group clash with Inter Milan next week due to injury.
The Argentine was withdrawn at half-time of Tuesday night’s victory over Villarreal on Tuesday night, his first start of the season.
Though Ernesto Valverde tried to play down fears over his star man’s fitness, Barca have now confirmed the extent of his injury.
Lionel Messi looks set to miss Barcelona’s Champions League group clash with Inter Milan
Messi was withdrawn in the win over Villarreal despite making his first start of the season
A statement released on Wednesday night said, ‘First team player Leo Messi has an elongation at the adductor of the left thigh. It is low and its progression will determine his availability.’
Spanish newspaper AS report that he will miss Saturday’s trip to Getafe as well as the visit of Inter next Wednesday.
He is also a doubt for next weekend’s visit of Sevilla.
Messi missed the first four games of the season with a calf issue, before making substitute appearances against Borussia Dortmund and Granada last week.
Barcelona have confirmed that Messi suffered a thigh injury in the first half at the Nou Camp
Valverde said on Tuesday night: ‘He had some discomfort in his adductor and we preferred not to risk him.’
He added: ‘When something happens to Messi, everyone stops, not only on the field, but in the stands as well.
‘As a precaution we have decided not to risk it. In theory, it is nothing more but we will see tomorrow how it is.’
