MADRID, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona face an anxious wait to see whether Leo Messi will be fit to play in their difficult weekend trip to play Getafe in the Liga Santander and the vital Champions League tie at home to Inter Milan next Wednesday.
Messi made his first start of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win at home to Villarreal after suffering an injury to his right calf in pre-season. However, he only lasted 45 minutes as coach Ernesto Valverde decided to take him off at halftime due to an issue with his abductor.
Speaking after the game Valverde admitted it was a big decision to take off his star player.
"When something happens to Messi, the world stops. Not just here at Barcelona," he said.
The coach said he had decided to replace Messi with Ousmane Dembele as a precaution.
"I don't think the injury is serious. We didn't want to take any risks," he commented, adding that he would rather wait for test results before discussing the extent of the possible injury.
"We will see tomorrow (Wednesday) I can't tell you anything now. He has been injured for a long time and we do not want to take any risks at the moment," said Valverde.
