Messi Backs Atletico Madrid for Champions League Glory
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi hopes Real Madrid will lose the Champions League final when they take on Atletico Madrid in Milan later this month.Luis Enrique’s men were dumped from the competition by Atletico in the quarter-finals, who then went on to reach the final after edging Bayern Munich in the semifinal stage. And Messi is backing them to do a number on Barca’s eternal rivals in the final, Goal reports.
“It is clear that the people at Barcelona do not want Real Madrid to win anything,” Messi told ESPN.
“It would hugely please Barcelona if Atletico beat them in the Champions League final.
“What Atletico Madrid have done is great, it is not easy to beat them. They are a very tough opponent and [Diego] Simeone deserves credit for their performances.”
Griezmann inspired Atleti over Barca and Bayern. Image: Mirror
The five-time ballon d’Or winner also reflected on Barcelona’s near breakdown towards the close of the season, and hopes the domestic double of La Liga and Copa del Rey will make for a successful season having lost out on another treble.
“The Champions League elimination was a major blow. We were much better than Atletico in the first half and could have decided the tie there. It was then very complicated in the return at the Vicente Calderon,” he added.
“It would be great if we can end the season by winning the Liga title and the Copa del Rey. We realise it will not be easy, though. We have two finals left, one in La Liga and one in the Copa.
“We spilled a lot of points in La Liga, but recovered just in time. We still have everything in our own hands.”
Barca are away at Granada in La Liga where a win will see them clinch a second successive title before they play Sevilla in the Copa final later this month.
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