Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has insisted that his team will not alter their usual style of play despite star man Lionel Messi being ruled out for two months, but the Spanish giants will have to tweak their system against Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday's Champions League clash at the Nou Camp.
Sport360 has looked at the tactical options available to the Spaniard and how Brazilian star Neymar could be deployed in a more central role as the reigning Champions League holders try to cover for Messi's long-term absence.
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On the face of it, maintaining the team’s usual shape would be the most logical decision for Enrique. But with so much of the play always going through Messi, it is unlikely the team could be anywhere near as effective with an inexperienced Munir or Sandro, in the position usually occupied by the Argentine.
Would provide the team more defensive solidity and would also move Neymar into a more central attacking position. Getting the team’s chief attacking threats closer together would certainly unsettle defences. But Rakitic has rarely played on the right and it would also mean changing the triangle pattern in central midfield.
The central midfield trio of Rakitic, Busquets and Iniesta would be unchanged, while the energy of Jordi Alba and Dani Alves makes them perfect for the wing-back role to supply ammunition for Neymar and Suarez. But it would leave the back three dangerously exposed, and Enrique probably won’t risk this formation in big games.
