After just 12 minutes on the clock on Saturday, Barcelona found themselves 2-0 up against the league leaders Sevilla in what was a crucial clash for both teams.
However, their joy was short-lived as talisman Lionel Messi was seen clutching his elbow and writhing in pain after a horrible landing three minutes later. He was taken off and the club went on to confirm the worst fear of their fans – the Argentine is injured and will be sidelined for about three weeks due to a fracture.
Barcelona’s next set of fixtures are incredibly challenging and many fingers could well be hovering over the panic button for the Spanish champions. However, the cloud of gloom comes with a silver lining for the Catalans as they look to eliminate their so-called “Messidependencia”.
We take a look at a few reasons why Barcelona should be optimistic during this difficult time.
Coutinho’s time to step up
Coutinho will be looking to step up
It is during the times of utmost desperation that one realises true potential. When Messi was prey to a medial collateral ligament knee injury which sidelined him for about two months in late 2015, Neymar stepped up and took reins.
The Brazilian had been in amazing form for about a season and half prior to this and had already established himself as a world-class player. However, he raised his already-high standards and reached greater heights in Messi’s absence.
He formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez and the duo humiliated Real Madrid at the Bernabeu with Messi coming in for only a brief cameo after the game was already decided at 3-0.
Messi’s injury this time around sets the stage for another Brazilian to step up.
Coutinho had been phenomenal with Liverpool but was at the receiving end of some criticism mainly due to his €142 million fee after moving to Barcelona. This would be the perfect opportunity for him to assert himself and justify the price tag. He will be allowed more freedom on the ball which should unlock more dimensions of his game and also boost his confidence if he makes the most of it.
This should also work positively for the team as they find refuge in another talisman, something that’s been missing ever since Neymar left.
Vacancy on the wings
Ousmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele had a brilliant start to the season, scoring the winner in the Spanish Supercup against Sevilla.
The Frenchman scored four goals in the next five games in all competitions but hasn’t yet completely cemented his place in the starting lineup. With Messi out, Dembele has a chance to start every game at his preferred right wing position, just as he did after rising from the bench to replace the Argentine icon.
Brazilian prospect Malcom has been overlooked by Ernesto Valverde so far this season. Despite being in been great for Bordeaux last season and showing great promise with his former team, he’s yet to play since moving to Spain.
Now, the versatile winger will surely get some minutes as Barcelona deal with Messi’s absence and it’s up to him to make a statement. If Malcom does impress, he can be an excellent fringe player towards the business end of the season.
Test of character for the team
FC Barcelona
Barcelona’s next set of fixtures includes Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Inter again and then Real Betis. There is a chance Messi will miss the Atletico Madrid clash next month too, should Barcelona choose to address his recovery with great caution. These are some demanding fixtures and to come out on top at the end of this string is a herculean task.
The Catalans have been rightly criticised in the past for being heavily reliant on Messi. His absence will be a true test of character for the entire team. If Barcelona do emerge victorious in all or most of these games, the team morale will be lifted significantly.
Adding a hungry Messi to this well–oiled machine can make Barcelona a force to be reckoned with in Spain and Europe.
