Messi paints a pensive figure,arm in sling,pondering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
A clasico without Messi is unthinkable for many.
The first clasico was played in 1902 and it turns out that since then and the time Messi appeared on the scene 199 clasicos got played without him.
And Clasicos will go on when he’s moved on.
But for now there’s a Messi shaped vacuum in the Barcelona squad and the clasico will be a grim joyless affair.

However on the plus side Barcelona did not do badly without Messi in the CL game against Inter Milan.
Rafina and Jordi Alba scored to give Barca a comfortable 2 – 0 win in that game.
So while they wait for Messi to get better they are currently on top of Group B with 9 points with Inter on second with 6 points.
Highlights of that game