Barca confirm abductor injury for Messi

FC Barcelona striker Leo Messi looks certain to miss Saturday's Liga Santander game away to Getafe and is a doubt for the vital Champions League clash at home to Inter Milan after the club confirmed that he has suffered another muscle injury.

Messi was forced out of Tuesday night's 2-1 win against Villarreal at halftime with a physical problem and the club has published a medical report explaining he has suffered an "elongation in the abductor muscle of his left leg."

Although the club doesn't say how long Messi will be sidelined, his presence in Getafe looks to be virtually impossible as Barcelona look for their first away win of the season after defeats in Bilbao and Granada and a draw away to Osasuna.

Tuesday night saw Messi make his first start of the season after suffering a calf injury on August 5 in his first training session after a busy summer which saw him play for Argentina in the Copa Americana in Brazil.