Soccer

Bayer Leverkusen hoping to capitalise on Lionel Messi absence

Barcelona missing talisman but unbeaten at home in Champions League since May 2013

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is expected to be sidelined for two months. Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is expected to be sidelined for two months. Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
Mon Sept 28 2015 - 18:00

Bayer Leverkusen are hoping to capitalise on the absence of Lionel Messi when they face Barcelona at the Nou Camp tonight.

Messi, who scored a total of 60 goals and set up 28 more in 60 appearances to help Barca capture a Primera Division, Champions League and Copa del Rey treble last season, hurt his left knee in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Las Palmas and will be sidelined for two months.

“Of course any team would miss Messi, but Barcelona still have a world-class team without him,” Bayer midfielder Christoph Kramer said.

Sidelined

Messi had not suffered a serious injury since the 2013-14 campaign and joins Brazilian midfielder Rafinha, who underwent knee surgery last week and is sidelined for six months, on the injury list.

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Barca coach Luis Enrique believes his team can grow through the adversity.

“Whenever there is an injury it is sad and unpleasant,” Enrique said on his club’s official website. “If it’s an injury to Messi, even more so...But we’re a team and I’m convinced that we’ll overcome it.

“Barca will not play in a different way without Leo.”

Enrique is expected to field a 4-4-2 formation, with in-form Luis Suárez playing alongside Neymar in attack. Suárez scored both goals in the win over Las Palmas to lift Barca to second in La Liga, one point adrift of league leaders Villarreal and one clear of Real Madrid six games into the season.

Unbeaten at home

Barca, who began their Champions League title defence with a 1-1 draw at Roma in their pool opener, have reason to be confident. Since losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich in May 2013, they are unbeaten at home in the competition, winning their last six games at the Nou Camp.

Bayer, who thumped BATE Borisov in their group opener 4-1 at the BayArena, warmed up for the trip to Spain with a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen.

The victory, their biggest in the domestic campaign this season, lifted Roger Schmidt’s side to fifth in the Bundesliga standings, nine points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich.

Barca have beaten Leverkusen in their previous five meetings. The last time the sides met was in the 2011-12 campaign round of 16 with the Catalans thumping the German outfit 7-1.

“We have to go into the game with confidence and be fully focused,” Kramer said. “In football anything is possible and we can definitely get something in Barcelona. We should enjoy the game and have fun.”