Celtic boss buoyed up for an epic
The 26-year-old Argentina forward injured his thigh in a 2-0 Primera Division win over Almeria on Saturday and has been ruled out for between two and three weeks.
Bhoys boss Lennon, whose side lost their Group H opener 2-0 to AC Milan at San Siro, said: “It is obviously very good news for us because he is the best player in the world.
“However, it is tinged with sadness because it is always fantastic to see the great players play here in Glasgow.
“We are looking forward to the game, we welcome Barcelona with open arms and we are hoping it is going to be another great occasion.”
Neymar is likely to take over Messi’s superstar mantle for the evening and become the focus of the Barca attack but Lennon does not believe the two players can be compared.
The former Parkhead skipper said: “It is like comparing a dog with a cat.
“They are two different types, two different players altogether.
“He (Neymar) is wonderfully gifted, quick, predominantly playing on the left-hand side and has goals in him.
“He is only young and he has a fantastic future but it is far too early to make comparisons to Messi. There is only one player currently who could arguably be around the calibre of Messi and that is Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Lennon, whose side famously beat the Catalan giants 2-1 at Celtic Park last November on their way to the last 16 of the competition, believes Barca will be instantly recognisable even without their Argentinian superstar.
“Our approach will be the same whether Messi plays or not,” he said.
“Barcelona don’t change their system, they don’t change their style of play really and 4-3-3 is just what they believe in. It has worked well for them very well over the years.
“It would be fantastic if we could get something out of it like we did last year. We didn’t really budget for it, as it were, in both the games last year, so if we can get something it will be a huge bonus for us.
“It will be very much at times containment; to limit Barcelona to as few chances as we can and at the same time maximise the opportunities that we get, as we did last year.
“But they are not like any other team. Against Milan, we had our fair share of the ball and had our chances.
“But Barcelona, for me, are a class above in the way they pass the ball, the way they create chances and the pace they have in wider areas.
“I think they have been the best club side in the world for possibly the last 10 years although Bayern Munich look to have taken over that mantle.”
Barca head into the tie likely to be without defenders Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba and Carles Puyol and midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes this along with the absence of Messi will put the Catalans to the test.
“Without Messi we will have to take more responsibility,” said the former Arsenal midfielder.
“I think we all have to step up and make sure that we don’t feel his absence, and show we can play great football without him.”
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino insists the absence of Messi will not be used as an excuse should his side lose.
Martino said: “Messi is the best player in the world but we have a great team and his absence cannot be an excuse if we don’t get a good result.”
Fabregas believes 21-year-old Brazilian star Neymar could be the one Barcelona player capable of one day reaching the levels of Messi.
“He is a very talented player, very quick and has the skills to get away from you easily,” the Spain international said.
“He is already a star but this boy will have a lot to say in the future of football.
“It is up to him. Everything is in his hands.
“He came here to learn, to compete, to fight, to grow up as a player and a person.
“He is still a boy and in the future we will be talking about him as one of the greatest.”
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