Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde says Lionel Messi was substituted “as a precaution” in the champions’ 2-1 win over Villarreal at Camp Nou on Tuesday night.
Messi made his first start of the campaign after recovering from a calf injury picked up in pre-season, but he went down holding his thigh after half an hour and had to receive treatment on the sidelines.
The Argentine continued until half-time, but did not reappear for the second half as he was replaced by Osumane Dembele and is now likely to be doubtful for Barca’s trip to Getafe on Saturday.
“When something happens to Messi, the world stops,” Valverde said after the game.
“But it doesn’t seem to be anything more than discomfort in his adductor and we made the change as a precaution."
Messi assisted the first goal for Antoine Griezmann as the Frenchman headed home a corner from the Argentine after six minutes.
“He had discomfort,” the French forward told Movistar LaLiga. “I don’t know any more than that because we didn’t have time to talk to him (at half-time). The boss was giving us tactical instructions.”
It was put to Valverde that it looked as if Dembele might have picked up another injury on his return to action as well, but the Barca boss said: “I don’t think he ended up injured. I hope that’s paranoia on your part.”
Messi, whose new problem is on the other side to his recent calf injury, will undergo tests on Wednesday.
