Messi injury adds to Barca woes

Barcelona's Argentine striker Lionel Messi faces missing his club's crucial Champions League meeting with Inter Milan after picking up a thigh injury in Saturday's draw with Athletic Bilbao, the club said on Sunday.

FC Barcelona's Lionel Andres Messi celebrates after scoring against Recreativo Huelva during their Spanish league football match at the Nuevo Colombino's stadium in Huelva, on November 16. The Argentine striker faces missing his club's crucial Champions League meeting with Inter Milan after picking up a thigh injury in the draw with Athletic Bilbao, the club has said.

"First impressions with Messi are not good," was how coach Josep Guardiola had reacted to the news overnight after his star man went off at the San Mames stadium with 15 minutes remaining, giving way to Bojan Krkic.

For Tuesday's match with Inter at the Nou Camp Barca are already without the Italian side's former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has a leg strain.

In addition, central defender Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure are set to face a spell on the sidelines with swine flu.

Mexican defender Rafael Marquez is also showing swine flu symptoms and Barca were later to confirm if he is a further addition to the injury list.

"What is worrying me is how to get the players to recuperate. I need players who are fit," said Guardiola.

With Barca held and Real Madrid now top of the league after edging Santander on Saturday the Catalan club are short on morale boosts a week ahead of the "Clasico" between the top two at the Nou Camp.