Barcelona get Messi injury boost

Barcelona have received a boost with confirmation that the leg problem which forced Lionel Messi to leave Sunday’s match with Athletic Bilbao early is nothing serious.

Messi was replaced at half-time of Barca’s 6-0 win as a precaution after suffering what looked to be a hamstring injury and the newly-crowned FIFA Ballon d’Or winner underwent tests on Monday morning.

However, the results of those tests have revealed no major problem and the Argentina international has not yet been ruled out of Wednesday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg with Athletic.