Barcelona was handed a boost on Wednesday after tests revealed that the hamstring injury sustained by Lionel Messi in Barca’s 2-2 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first-legdraw with Paris Saint-Germain is not as bad as first feared. The four-time Ballon d’Or winner pulled his hamstring just before halftime, shortly after putting Barca into the lead in the 38thminute.
Barca revealed in a statement that Messi will definitely miss the Catalan club’s home clash with Mallorca on Saturday, but could return for the second-leg of the UCLquarterfinal series with PSG at the Camp Nou on April 10. Messi also confirmed the injury was less serious than first thought in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday. “I willreturn soon,” he said. “Thankfully it was not so serious.”
Messi’s absence against Mallorca will bring an end to his 19-game scoring streak in La Liga, one of many records the Argentine hasset this year.