Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde accepts they depend on Lionel Messi after their 4-4 draw at Villarreal.

The Catalans were 2-0 ahead early on, only to be trailing 4-2 after 90 minutes before Messi and Luis Suarez pulled them level at 4-4.

When asked if Barcelona were reliant on Messi, Valverde showed no shame in confirming that they are.

"Yes, of course we are," he said.

"Any team in the world would be, but we can also play without him.

"In the first 15 minutes there was no Messidependence and in the last 15 there was."