Mendilibar: Messi's absence is good news, other players will have more freedom

Eibar will take on a Barcelona side without Lionel Messi on Tuesday night, yet Jose Luis Mendilibar is still wary of the threat the Blaugrana pose.

The Basque coach made the point that Barcelona may actually play more as a team without the 33-year-old.

"It's good news because he is the best player in the world," Mendilibar said of Messi's absence.

"[But this could lead to] other players having more freedom and playing more as a team."

Mendilibar pointed to Barcelona's 3-0 win away at Real Valladolid as a reason to be cautious.

"It may be the most average Barcelona in recent years, but in the last game [against Valladolid] they played very well," he acknowledged.

"They moved the ball at speed and won easily, created many chances and hardly conceded [any chances]. They played with three central defenders and two wing-backs on the outside, with a lot of speed and they did a lot of damage.

"When they lost the ball they ran fast to get it back, and that is important. It's important to catch them off guard when we rob [the ball]."

Eibar put in an impressive performance against Real Madrid in their penultimate game before the Christmas break and Mendilibar wants more of the same.

"We competed well against Madrid in a very intense match, but then we noticed it against Alaves [in a game Eibar lost 2-1]," he stated.

"The objective is to play a match similar to that one."