Barcelona were left sweating on the fitness of Lionel Messi while Javier Mascherano was ruled out for six weeks after the Argentina duo were forced off with injuries during their UEFA Champions League draw with Paris St Germain.
Messi
was replaced at half-time at the Parc des Princes after holding his
right hamstring and he will undergo further tests tomorrow to determine
the extent of the problem, Barcelona announced on their website.
The Catalan giants will be hoping it is nothing serious with the quarter-final second leg against PSG coming next week.
The
25-year-old, who at the weekend became the first player to score
against every other side in the Spanish top flight in successive matches
after netting for the 19th consecutive league game, had put Barcelona
ahead against PSG tonight in the 38th minute before the French outfit
battled back for a 2-2 draw.
He appeared to
suffer the injury when curling a shot over the bar shortly before
half-time and was a passenger for the last few minutes of the first
period.
While Barcelona wait on news about
Messi, they know they will definitely be without Mascherano for the
second leg against PSG as well as a number of Primera Division matches
after he was ruled out with a knee injury.
The former Liverpool player was stretchered off in the 84th minute of tonight's game to be replaced by Marc Bartra.
A Barcelona statement read: "As reported by the medical team at the end of the game, the Azulgrana number 16 suffered a torn ligament in his right knee after a collision with Jordi Alba.
"If he successfully returns in six weeks, Mascherano will be back just for the final stretch of the season."
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