Barcelona's Lionel Messi was unable to complete Tuesday's match against Villarreal in the fifth round of the Primera Liga.

Messi suffered a muscle injury in his left leg that prevented him from returning to the stadium in the second half of the match, which ended with Barcelona's 2-1 victory, and coach Ernesto Valverde had to hire Frenchman Osman Dembele to replace the Argentine.

Barcelona said in a statement on Wednesday that medical tests had undergone the player showed that he had a stretch in the connective muscle of the left thigh.

The club did not disclose the duration of Messi's absence, and confirmed that his response to treatment will determine the length of his absence.

According to Spanish reports that Messi will miss Getafe in the league on Saturday, while doubts about his participation in the game Inter Milan in the Champions League next Wednesday.

It is Messi's second injury in two months and may be forced to miss the international team during the international suspension early next month, in order to get a rest period and avoid any further complications.