Barca's first test without Messi

MADRID - Argentine scored five in the Catalans' last encounter against Leverkusen

Without Lionel Messi, it's time for Neymar to step up on the big stage.
Barcelona will be without their Argentine talisman for 7-8 weeks, starting with Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. The Argentina captain injured his left knee during Barcelona's 2-1 win over Las Palmas in the Spanish league.
"It's a shame for football," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. "You simply like to watch him play."
The last time Leverkusen played at Barcelona in 2012, Messi scored five goals in a 7-1 victory.
Neymar played on Saturday when Messi was hurt, but missed a penalty after Luis Suarez had already scored the opening two goals.
Because of the injury, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique faces the challenge of picking an attacking formation that will keep his team in competitions as Messi recovers.
"It's great news for our rival, but for us it's a test and we have to accept it and overcome it," Luis Enrique said. "Injuries are the worst thing in football and they carry a special weight when it's Messi."
Enrique admitted it is impossible to replace Messi.
"A player like Leo is irreplaceable," the Spaniard said on Monday.
"In pre-season none of Leo, Neymar or (Luis) Suarez played, but our idea of how to play didn't change. It is a challenge for us to be without the best player in the world, but it also provides an incentive for us."
Messi is expected to miss La Liga games against Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Getafe and Villarreal, as well as Leverkusen's visit and two clashes with BATE Borisov in the Champions League.
However, Enrique is confident the 28-year-old will be fit for Barca's first meeting with Real Madrid this season on November 21 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Leo came in yesterday for the medical check-up and he looked good, he was in high spirits," added the coach.
"Time is in his favour."
Midfielder Ivan Rakitic is also hopeful that Messi's absence will act as a spur for his teammates to take more responsibility in the coming weeks.
"Messi's injury affects us a lot. It hurts not to have the best player in the world, but it also serves as motivation to win the games for him," said the Croatian international.
"We hope he returns as soon as possible."
Messi won't be on the field, and the rest of the Barcelona team needs to get used to it.
"Like it or not, Messi is our best player, the one who causes the most problems," Barcelona defender Marc Bartra said.
"It's a major loss but now we have to become even stronger."
Without Messi, Enrique may abandon his favoured three-pronged attacking formation and instead opt for the security of an extra midfielder, or include Munir El Haddadi to support Suarez and Neymar up front.
El Haddadi, a 20-year-old Spain forward who is considered one of the brightest prospects in the game, has yet to score in four matches this season.
He did, however, supply Suarez with an assist against Las Palmas - the Uruguayan's fifth goal in nine matches. Neymar has scored three goals in six matches.
"Not having the best player in the world on the field sounds like an advantage for us," Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt said of Messi's absence, "but we'll see if that really turns out to be so."
Bayer Leverkusen have recovered from their Bundesliga mini-slump of three losses with two straight victories.
The latest win was a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen with Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and Hakan Calhanoglu both on the bench at the start. But heading into the match against Barcelona, Leverkusen still remember the 7-1 beating from three years ago.
"We want to show that we won't go under like that again," Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno said.
Barcelona could also be without Jordi Alba and Thomas Vermaelen, who are injured.
Barca were held to a 1-1 draw in their first Champions League game of the campaign away at Roma a fortnight ago and Enrique insisted it is imperative they get all three points against group leaders Leverkusen at the Camp Nou.
"I don't know if Leo's absence will be a boost for Leverkusen, but for us it is a key game against one of the strongest opponents in the group."