Cape Town - Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident that the Blaugrana will maintain a high level of performance despite missing their talisman Lionel Messi. 

The Catalans will host Inter in a Champions League clash on Wednesday but they will be without Messi, who fractured his arm in the 4-2 win over Sevilla on Saturday. However, the club president remains optimistic about their chances. 

"Messi will be out for however long he needs to be," Bartomeu told the press. 

"Without Leo we are still competitive, but the important thing is to move forward. 

"We have to win, of course, and prepare ourselves. The players are conscious of where they are." 

Messi has been in terrific form so far this season and will be a big miss for the Spanish giants. The Argentine has scored 12 goals and made six assists in only 12 games.