NEIL LENNON reckons his Bhoys will tonight come up against a side better than AC Milan - but no longer the best in the world.

The Hoops boss came to this conclusion even before he discovered Lionel Messi would be missing from the Barcelona line-up at Parkhead.

Having studied Barca very closely since the Group Stage draw was made, Lennon still has the utmost respect for the side who have finished as group winners 14 times and who started this campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Ajax.

But he believes Bayern Munich - who lifted the Champions League trophy in May - have now assumed the title of best in the business.

He declared: "Barcelona have been the best club side in the world for the last 10 years, though Bayern Munich now look to have taken over that mantle."

Nevertheless, Lennon accepts it is going to take another monumental effort if his team is to repeat the win they gained over Barca in November as both progressed to the last 16.

He said: "Our tactics will be very much, at times, containment, and trying to limit to Barcelona to as few chances as we can and to maximise the opportunities we might have.

"Against Milan we had our fair share of the ball and made chances.

"But for me Barcelona are a class above in the way they pass the ball, the way they create chances and in the pace they have in wider areas."

Lennon dismissed the notion his side must take something tonight to have any chance of again competing for a last-16 place.

"It's not the end of the world if we don't win this game," he insisted.

"If Ajax and Milan draw, we are still well in the group with the double-header against Ajax to play and Milan still to come here.

"But if we can get anything out of the games against Barca, it would be a huge bonus."

Messi's thigh injury has removed much of Barca's goal threat - he is the second highest scorer in the history of the competition - but Lennon has mixed emotions about his absence.

"It's obviously very good news for us because he is the best player in the world," he said.

"However, this news is tinged with sadness because it is always fantastic to see the great players play here."

Lennon has one very important decision still to make.

With Derk Boerrigter struggling to shake off the ankle injury which recurred in last week's defeat against Morton, James Forrest - now free of his virus and sciatic nerve problem - could be pitched straight back in tonight.

Beram Kayal - who had a groin injury - has joined Forrest in returning to training in the last few days, but Joe Ledley is definitely ruled out.