3 things we learned as Messi-less Barca crumble again

#2 The need for a creative player at Barca

Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic are past their best

Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic have been performing far below their standards for quite a while now, and their sloppy and passive attitude define the whole team's performance. At San Mames however, Busquets and Rakitic didn't even start the game, and Frenkie de Jong, Sergi Roberto, and Carles Alena took the midfield places. Not having the same old Rakitic and Busquets in the team invited fans to hope for a more daring, dynamic and attacking display from the midfield, especially from star signing Frenkie de Jong and La Masia product Carles Alena.

But this midfield too looked completely out of ideas and devoid of inspiration on the pitch. Frenkie de Jong looked like a shadow of the dynamic, attractive baller that he was at Ajax.

Gone are the days where a moment of magic from Iniesta or a defense splitting pass from Xavi captivated the onlooking fans. The experienced players like Busquets and Rakitic don't perform at that level anymore, and under the defensive system of Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona is in dire need of a daring and creative midfielder. Frenkie de Jong is seen as someone who could take up that mantle, but his performance last night, along with Alena and Roberto, was an unconvincing one.

Barcelona needs players other than Messi who can inspire the magical moments that the Catalan club is known for. It was this lack of creativity and dynamism from the midfield that transpired such a dull performance from Barca last night, and de Jong, Busquets, Rakitic, Alena, Arthur, and Roberto, though all talented, have to step up if the Messi-dependencia is to be broken.

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#1 Is Neymar the only solution?

Barcelona need the vision and creativity of Neymar

After a dreadful performance like that, where the midfielders and attackers looked out of ideas, one can only wonder how the vision and creativity of Neymar could have lifted that team. One of the most talented playmaking forwards in the game today, Neymar could be the solution that Barca is looking for.

Antoine Griezmann was signed by Barcelona to fulfill the role of a creative forward. But playing from the left-wing, even he looked ordinary against Bilbao. At Atletico Madrid, Griezmann usually played centrally, or from the right flank, and to be at his best he needs to play from his preferred position. With Suarez on the decline, Griezmann could take his place in the center. That leaves Barcelona in need of a creative playmaker who plays from the left.

In Messi's absence, Barcelona was desperate for a source of inspiration and creativity against Bilbao. Neymar Jr, during his tenure at Barca, proved time and again that he could take up that mantle, and share the responsibility of creating goalscoring chances, with Lionel Messi. Barca's experienced midfielders are way past their best, and the new recruits, though promising, need more time to reach the required level. The only way to break out of Messi-dependencia might be to bring a player of the profile of Neymar, which could not only make Messi more effective but might also unleash the full potential of Griezmann.

Only time will tell which club Neymar will play for when the transfer window closes at the end of August. But this uninspiring performance from the team may just be another signal that Barcelona must break the bank to break Neymar back to the Nou Camp.