Barcelona forward Neymar has admitted that his team struggled without Lionel Messi in Tuesday's Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen.

Messi picked up a serious knee injury at the weekend, which has ruled him out of action for at least the next two months.

Barca fell 1-0 behind to Bayer before eventually turning it around at Camp Nou, but Neymar has conceded that it was tough without "the best player in the world".

"Messi is essential and yes, [his absence] showed. He's the best player in the world, creates chances and always when a player of that quality is out we'd suffer," AS quotes Neymar as saying.

Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez scored the goals for Barca on Tuesday, as the Catalan side moved onto four points in Group E.