Lionel Messi avoids ankle break in Barcelona's victory over Atletico Madrid

Barcelona said initial tests had 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, but more would be carried out to determine the severity of the injury.

Messi held his hands over his head as he was taken off at the Vicente Calderón with his ankle swollen and Barcelona have since said the 22-year-old 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 criticised Ujfalusi's tackle, which earned the Czech defender a straight red card.

"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 apologise 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.