LONDON (Reuters) - Lionel Messi has raised concerns among Barcelona fans after he came out in the first half of the Primera Liga clash with Villarreal.
Messi was disturbed at the level of the muscles of his left thigh in the 30th minute of the match and headed towards the seam for treatment from the medical staff of the Catalan club.
Messi received some first aid and returned to the field, but he seemed impressed in the final minutes of the first half and could not continue running.
Coach Ernesto Valverde was forced to take Messi between halftime to avoid the worst, and pushed French striker Osman Dembele, who also returned from injury.
Valverde tried to reassure the public by saying that Messi's injury is not worrying, but press reports talked about fears of the absence of Messi, especially since the new injury has nothing to do with the injury that has recently recovered.
Messi missed the first clashes for Barcelona this season due to a muscle injury in his right leg and returned only a week ago to the competition.
It is noteworthy that Barcelona managed to win at Villarreal 2-1, and the benefit of their fans after a surprise loss in the previous stage to Granada.