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Messi suffers ankle strain in win at Atletico

Lionel Messi suffered a strained right ankle in Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid , with the Argentina playmaker set for more tests to determine the severity of the injury.

Barcelona said on Sunday initial tests ruled out any type of fracture or break after Tomas Ujfalusi caught Messi’s ankle as he sped up the pitch at fullflight during injury time.

Messi held his hands over his head as he was taken off at the Vicente Calderon with his ankle swollen. Barcelona said more tests would be performed on Monday with initial reports suggesting Messi could be out for two weeks.

“If he left the pitch it’s because he isn’t well. Tomorrow we’ll do tests,” coach Pep Guardiola said. “The doctors will tell us how he is. He’s sad, red-eyed. But these things happen. Now we can only wait on the prognosis and help him recover.”

Guardiola also criticized Ujfalusi’s tackle, which earned the Czech defender a straight red card and saw Messi leave with a swollen ankle.

“I think the images speak for themselves,” Guardiola said. “Messi is very honest, he’s the most honest player I know, he just wants to play.”

Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said Ujfalusi was anxious to apologize to Messi, who has been largely injury free the last two seasons. He scored the opener for Barcelona, his seventh in all competitions.

“We’ll see how long he’s out, until then we can only hope,” Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes said as Messi hobbled by to the team bus using crutches.