The Barca star suffered a knock in the second half against Valencia, and his manager has been left waiting further tests
Ernesto Valverde has confirmed that Lionel Messi will be assessed by Barcelona's medical staff after taking a knock in the 2-2 draw against Valencia, bringing his status for their midweek Copa del Rey clash against Real Madrid into question.
Barca trailed to first half goals from Kevin Gameiro and Daniel Parejo until Messi intervened.
The Barca talisman scored from the spot five minutes after Parejo doubled Valencia's advantage and then leveled the proceedings in the 64th minute to earn his side a point at Camp Nou.
But Messi appeared to suffer with a thigh issue minutes after that second goal, receiving treatment on the touchline before returning to the action as Valencia held on.
The Argentine did finish the contest but there remains obvious concern for the Barca captain with a Copa del Rey Clasico against Real Madrid just four days away.
Valverde confirmed Messi had an issue, though he is uncertain its precise nature and will wait for answers ahead of tests before his deciding the star man's status for the Madrid contest.
"[Messi] has a small problem," Valverde said after the match. "I don't know exactly what he has.
"We will have to wait to see what medical staff say. If he's in good shape, he'll play on Wednesday [against Madrid]."
"I imagine that he can't be too bad, but I'm not able to reveal anything."
Then Barca and Real Madrid will play their first leg Copa del Rey clash at Camp Nou on Wednesday, with the second leg set for the Bernabeu on February 26.
Valverde went on to speak about the club's priorities, with some wondering if they'll be distracted by the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
"Yes, we're motivated by LaLiga Santander, we're determined to win it again," he stated.
"Everybody can produce their own analysis, but I think today we started with the intention of playing well and winning.
"We are obsessed with trying to win every single match we compete in, especially in the league because it gives us consistency."
Jordi Alba was left on the bench, with Sergi Roberto favoured in the left-back position on Saturday evening, however the former Athletic Club coach was forced to introduce the former Valencia defender with Sergi Roberto visibly struggling in an unfamiliar position.
However, this decision wasn't to come without consequences as the left-back picked up a yellow card that ensured he will be suspended for the next league match, and Barcelona have been proven to struggle without him.
"We have several options, although given the fantastic form Jordi Alba is in it's going to be difficult to replace him," he admitted.
"He had four yellows and I thought this was a match that he could be rested, but he has come on and collected the fifth."
Carles Alena has burst onto the first-team scene in Catalonia since the turn of the year, and Valverde remains impressed with how quickly the Spanish midfielder is adjusting to playing alongside his more experienced teammates, even though he withdrew him in the second half.
"I see him developing very well indeed," he said of Alena.
"He's participating more and more each day and he's a footballer with great qualities.
"Just as the game was progressing, I felt as though Arthur would help us in midfield."