MADRID:  Without Lionel Messi, it's time for Neymar to step up on the big stage.

Barcelona will be without Messi for 7-8 weeks, starting with Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen, after the Argentina forward injured his left knee.

"It's a shame for football," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. "You simply like to watch him play."

The last time Leverkusen played at Barcelona in 2012, Messi scored five goals in a 7-1 victory.

Messi was hurt on Saturday in the 2-1 win over Las Palmas in the Spanish league. Neymar played, but missed a penalty after Luis Suarez had already scored the opening two goals.

Because of the injury, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique faces the challenge of picking an attacking formation that will keep his team in competitions as Messi recovers.

"It's great news for our rival, but for us it's a test and we have to accept it and overcome it," Luis Enrique said. "Injuries are the worst thing in football and they carry a special weight when it's Messi."