Messi loss could un-Masch Javier's potential - Ryan Duggins

Its only until Barcelona lose a key player that you take note of how thin they are in terms quality in numbers. Risks are meant to be taken in football, as a manager puts together his starting 11 that will dominate the opposition with not just ease, but with numerous plaudits of orgasm behind it. But what of the back-up...

Pep Guardiola has already stated, not like he had to, that Lionel Messi is 'almost irreplaceable' and that they will struggle without him. Although the fixtures that Barcelona will be Messi-less don't include a massive test, the terraces at the Nou Camp should be wary.

But why is it that the forward line don't have sufficient replacements? Even compared with the other positions within the Barcelona squad; Yes, a loss would hurt them, but they have players with experience that can come in. If Sergio Busquets is unavailable, Mascherano comes in. If Xavi has a tumble, they have Seidou Keita. Abidal gets injured, Maxwell comes in and the same is said for Dani Alves and his replacement Adriano. This general rotation is not a constant occurrence at Barcelona, but it does happen.

So what will Barcelona do? Well, the loss does seem big, but as they generally play with four free-roaming midfielders (unlike AC Milan, they're two wingers do like to get back and get involved with the play, rather than wait for the ball) the transition for Iniesta to move forward to the right-hand side wouldn't be too hard. The same can be said for Xavi, which is one of the basic positives of not playing with traditional wingers.

This may be a little bit of a redundant comment, but a loss to David Villa would be a lot more drastic. That specific Striker role for Barcelona has only really been coached to constant-prodigy and hardly quality Bojan Krkic, who seems to be immune to playing well before the 77^th minute.

So with several options to go with for Guardiola, which will he choose? I would suggest that a home game like this would be an ideal surrounding for Javier Mascherano to come into his own. Although Barcelona will lose a little going forward by playing Mascherano and Busquets in the same team, Sporting Gijon's chances will be even more limited than they would normally be. With these to morauding the midfield, extra work would have to be put in by the chosen third midfielder (be it Iniesta or Xavi) but this shoudn't really be a problem.

Or Bojan can start in the centre and David Villa pushed wide, which if happens, and I will stick my neck and say this, will consequent in an up-hill struggle.