La Liga 2021-22 season starts: How are the big three looking?

Barca lose Messi... and may have more problems than that

Barcelona have one trophy - the Copa del Rey - to show for their past two seasons with Lionel Messi, and now they prepare for a season without their greatest player for the first time since 2003.

Barca's financial problems, which led to them being unable to afford to keep their all-time top scorer even though he had accepted a 50% pay cut, stole all the headlines this week. He has since moved to Paris St-Germain.

But there are more ramifications than that to come, with the status of their new signings unclear.

There are doubts on whether they will be able to register Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia or Emerson Royal - their four summer signings.

Barcelona have to register their final squad by 1 September - but are likely to need to move players on to be able to fit in their new signings under La Liga's wage cap rules.

Ronald Koeman's side have until Friday to register their squad for Sunday's opener against Real Sociedad (19:00 BST).

Aguero's injury - which will keep him out until the end of October - means there is no need to register him yet.

With so much uncertainty, how will their fans react now they are allowed back into the Nou Camp? This will be the first time there have been supporters in the stadium during the Koeman reign - and the team are in their worst state for years.

Having said that, Barcelona missed their fans last season. They fared better away from home in La Liga in 2020-21, with 41 points on their travels and 38 at the Nou Camp.