MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 15:58:06| >> :60:1820:1820:

Messi injury worry as Barcelona held by Valencia

The striker is a doubt for the midweek Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi is a doubt for Wednesday's Copa del Rey Clasico semi-final at home to Real Madrid after sustaining a thigh injury in the 2-2 draw with Valencia.

The Argentina international scored twice, once from the penalty spot, as the hosts came from 2-0 down to earn a point and extend their lead at the top of LaLiga to six points.

Messi took his tally to 11 in the last nine matches in all competitions, passing 20 league goals for the 11th successive season.

However, it was not without cost as he needed treatment for what appeared to be a dead leg shortly after equalising and coach Ernesto Valverde does not know if he will recover in time for Wednesday's first leg against their arch-rivals.

"(Messi) has a small problem. I can't say exactly what problem he has, I don't know," he told a press conference after the match.

"We will have to wait to see what medical staff say. If he's in good shape, he'll play on Wednesday.

"We will wait. I imagine it's nothing, but we'll wait a few hours. Leo didn't ask me to sub him off."

The draw ended a sequence of eight successive league victories and Valverde admits that after a slow start he did not believe his side deserved to be 2-0 down.

"It was a very strange first part. It is true that Valencia started very well, generating a very clear opportunity, but from that moment on it was us who controlled the game, dominating the areas, creating the feeling that we could score," he said.

"When we were better we got the 0-1 in a counter-attack and then a second goal was a very severe punishment".

Valencia coach Marcelino looked on the positive side despite allowing a two-goal lead to slip.

"You can feel disappointed when you are 2-0 up and then draw but that's not how I feel," he said.

"The team had an extraordinary game and played spectacularly well but we were unlucky.

"We were close to winning but in the space of two minutes we went from almost being 3-1 up to drawing 2-2."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


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