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For the first time in many months, Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi suffered an injury setback. The Argentine was as usual at his incredible best during a crucial LaLiga fixture against Sevilla on Matchday 9, helping Barcelona take an early 2-0 lead, only to injure his arm via a terrible fall in the 25th minute of the game.
After conducting tests on the fractured arm, Barcelona later revealed that the playmaker would miss 3 weeks of action due to the setback. This was a huge blow to the Catalan giants who had just entered into a run of difficult and decisive matches, and they couldn't have wished anything other than fitness for their mercurial forward.
However, it didn't come out all bad for the Catalan giants, as the absence of the Argentine afforded other stars the opportunity to step up.
With Lionel Messi out, a number of Barcelona players benefited immensely, standing up at crucial moments, earning the freedom to move forward, and impressing in their respective roles so much that the absence of the playmaker was barely felt at the Camp Nou.
Below we take a look at 4 of these players.
#4 Sergi Roberto
Spanish international Sergi Roberto is one of the few Barcelona players who stepped up while Lionel Messi was ruled out of action, and it was such a great experience for the Catalans to witness their own product (La Masia) taking up a more active role in the team during crucial moments.
With the Argentine out injured, Roberto made the right flank his own, fetching the ball from deep and moving it forward into the offensive zones. He was often moved from the right-back position into more offensive roles, typically featuring as both a midfielder and a right winger during El Clasico - a match in which he contributed 2 incredible assists.
The Spaniard has been at an incredible level for the past few weeks, and there is no doubt he could become more influential in the Catalan capital if these types of opportunities continue to come his way.
#3 Ivan Rakitic
A great player with an incredible hard-working spirit, Croatian superstar Ivan Rakitic has been one of the stand-out performers in the Barcelona camp for the past few years, and the midfielder was one of the few Barcelona superstars who enjoyed more freedom during the absence of Lionel Messi in the past few weeks.
Messi is Barca's main attacker who has been freed from covering holes and taking on defensive duties. This implies that whenever he surges forward, he leaves space behind him, and Rakitic has been the one covering the void the Argentine leaves behind, since he features right behind him on the pitch.
In Messi's absence, Ernesto Valverde decided to push Rafinha Alcantara to the right wing, and the Spaniard heavily contributed defensively, helping cover holes on the flank, and thereby granting Rakitic the freedom to play more offensively
With reduced defensive duties, the Croatian was able to contribute more to team play, linking up perfectly with his co-midfielders, and helping in moving the ball forward, as well as doing some creative work. His brilliant long pass to Jordi Alba which split Real Madrid's defense wide open in the build-up to Barca's opener in El Clasico, was a masterpiece.
#2 Rafinha Alcantara
With Lionel Messi out injured, many people expected Ousmane Dembele to get more minutes and impress in the absence of the playmaker, but it was another star, Rafinha Alcantara, who benefited more from this great privilege.
The Barcelona midfielder who spent last season on loan at Inter Milan was given a rare start by Ernesto Valverde during a UEFA Champions League encounter against the Nerazzurri at the Nou Camp, and his performance couldn't have been better, as he ran riot and scored the opener in a 2-0 defeat of the Italian side.
Following his impressive display in the Champions League game, the versatile player was afforded more opportunities in the absence of Lionel Messi, and he was the one who occupied the Argentine's position on the right wing in Barcelona's last 2 LaLiga games which includes a 5-1 thrashing of Real Madrid in El Clasico.
#1 Luis Suarez
When Lionel Messi injured his arm and was ruled out of action for weeks with crucial games ahead, Barcelona needed another superstar to step up and fire the Catalans in front of goal, and it was none other than the lethal Luis Suarez who made the most out of this rare privilege.
The Uruguayan took on the goal-scoring responsibilities with a great attitude, and excelled so much that the absence of his partner-in-crime was barely felt. He led Barcelona's attack effectively, and reminded the world of his incredible ability in front of goal.
Suarez fired the Catalan giants to 4 victories and 1 draw across all competitions, bagging an unbelievable 5 goals and 1 assist to his name in the process, including a fantastic hat-trick against arch-rivals Real Madrid, as well as a wonderful brace at Rayo Vallecano last weekend.
