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What do Barcelona do now without Messi?

  /  autty

Whatever happens next, Ernesto Valverde has already acknowledged that Barcelona will be impacted by the loss of Lionel Messi.

If covering for the absence of a big star is a complicated task now, covering the hole left behind by one of the best players of all time almost seems impossible.

The 12 goals and six assists that he has contributed this season are unattainable numbers for the rest of the squad and its mere mortals.

Now, they must get to work and think about minimising the damage without La Pulga, rather than looking for a possible clone or someone to step in and fill his shoes.

Put somebody in his position, strengthen in midfield, add to the attack or decrease the number of strikers in order to exert better control on games are all options available to Valverde as he faces one of the most complicated periods of the season without one of world football's most decisive players of the last 10 years.

As was seen in the game against Sevilla, the most natural fit to replace him appears to be Ousmane Dembele.

Obviously the Frenchman is light years away from the Barcelona captain, but within the club they are still betting on him and are happy to give him the opportunity to stake a claim.

He wasn't very successful on Saturday and he will lose out on any comparison with the Argentine.

If Valverde does decide to bet on him against Inter and in El Clasico, he would accompany Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho in a three-man attack.

Another option for the coach is that of summer signing Malcom.

The Brazilian has been a regular in the stands for Barcelona in almost every game, but the club hierarchy have high hopes for him, which is why they went to such trouble to sign him in the summer.

In a time of emergency, he could now get his chance and, although he is left-footed, he does usually play more on the opposite flank.

Denis Suarez has barely had any opportunities either since arriving at the Camp Nou, but during his time at Villarreal he was one of the most effective players in LaLiga Santander in his position.

If he were to be deployed in that role on the left flank, it would then see Coutinho switch wings to fill Messi's position.

Valverde could even opt to change the system entirely and dispense with the three-man attack.

When he has changed it in the past, though, it has always ended in Messi partnering Suarez in attack.

This time, it could be Coutinho who moves into that position or Dembele could accompany the Uruguayan with the Brazilian playmaker behind them.

In the case that the coach opts for that, it could also allow Arturo Vidal to come into the side and make up the midfield along with Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic in addition to Arthur.

If that is the way that he decides to go, Dembele would likely be the victim and the man to miss out.

Another slightly more unlikely option would be to have Suarez as the lone attacker, with three men playing off him, perhaps in Coutinho, Rakitic and Sergi Roberto.

Arthur could then form the central midfield sitting duo alongside Busquets.

The options are certainly varied and plenty, but there's no doubt that the shadow of Messi looms large over some of the biggest games of the season.