Ernesto Valverde fully accepts Barcelona are dependent on Lionel Messi after the forward helped inspire a comeback in Tuesday's scintillating 4-4 draw away to Villarreal.
Messi was rested at Estadio de la Ceramica and initially Barca looked to be coping fine without him as they went 2-0 up thanks to Philippe Coutinho and Malcom – who also set up the opener.
But Samuel Chukwueze pulled one back and Karl Toko Ekambi punished poor positioning from Marc-Andre ter Stegen to equalise, before Vicente Iborra and Carlos Bacca had seemingly secured a famous win for Villarreal.