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Lionel Messi endured an accident in his first start of the year in the narrow win over Villarreal of Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
Messi, who’d recovered to feature, was replaced at the start of the second half after suffering a thigh issue.
The Argentine, making his La Liga begin, given the corner Antoine Griezmann to head home off the pub before Arthur made it 2-0.
Santi Cazorla pulled a goal back.
After the match, Barca manager Ernesto Valverde explained Messi’s injury as a”small problem in the adductor”.
“When something occurs to Messi, everyone stops, not just on the area, but at the stands as well,” he explained.
“As a precaution we have decided to not risk it. In theory, it is nothing more but we’ll see tomorrow how it is.”
Barcelona climbed four places up the table to fourth to help ease the pressure on Valverde following a bad start, Though far from the fluent best.
Prior to carrying on till half-time the Barca captain received therapy.
French striker Ousmane Dembele forward replaced the at the start of the second half.
Elsewhere, recently promoted Granada went high in La Liga – level on points with Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid – after drawing 1-1 at Real Valladolid.
Real Madrid entertain Osasuna on Wednesday (20:00 BST) while Bilbao are in bottom club Leganes (18:00 BST).
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