MX23RW : Thursday, February 7 09:02:38

Messi injury worry as Barcelona held by Valencia

Messi injury worry as Barcelona held by Valencia
© Reuters
The striker is a doubt for the midweek Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi is a doubt for Wednesday's Copa del Rey Clasico semi-final at home to Real Madrid after sustaining a thigh injury in the 2-2 draw with Valencia.

The Argentina international scored twice, once from the penalty spot, as the hosts came from 2-0 down to earn a point and extend their lead at the top of LaLiga to six points.

Messi took his tally to 11 in the last nine matches in all competitions, passing 20 league goals for the 11th successive season.

However, it was not without cost as he needed treatment for what appeared to be a dead leg shortly after equalising and coach Ernesto Valverde does not know if he will recover in time for Wednesday's first leg against their arch-rivals.

"(Messi) has a small problem. I can't say exactly what problem he has, I don't know," he told a press conference after the match.

"We will have to wait to see what medical staff say. If he's in good shape, he'll play on Wednesday.

"We will wait. I imagine it's nothing, but we'll wait a few hours. Leo didn't ask me to sub him off."

The draw ended a sequence of eight successive league victories and Valverde admits that after a slow start he did not believe his side deserved to be 2-0 down.

"It was a very strange first part. It is true that Valencia started very well, generating a very clear opportunity, but from that moment on it was us who controlled the game, dominating the areas, creating the feeling that we could score," he said.

"When we were better we got the 0-1 in a counter-attack and then a second goal was a very severe punishment".

Valencia coach Marcelino looked on the positive side despite allowing a two-goal lead to slip.

"You can feel disappointed when you are 2-0 up and then draw but that's not how I feel," he said.

"The team had an extraordinary game and played spectacularly well but we were unlucky.

"We were close to winning but in the space of two minutes we went from almost being 3-1 up to drawing 2-2."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona22155260233750
2Atletico MadridAtletico22128232141844
3Real Madrid22133637261142
4Sevilla22106636231336
5Getafe228862518732
6AlavesAlaves229582227-532
7Real Betis229582626032
8Valencia2261242420430
9Real Sociedad228682725230
10EibarEibar227872930-129
11Levante227693240-827
12Athletic Bilbao2251162328-526
13Leganes226882227-526
14Real Valladolid226791928-925
15Espanyol2274112536-1125
16Celta Vigo2266103436-224
17GironaGirona225982331-824
18Rayo Vallecano2265112638-1223
19Villarreal2231092331-819
20Huesca2236132139-1815

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