Lionel Messi has admitted Barcelona players were eager to see how Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid would unfold. The duo locked horns in the competition on Tuesday night, with the La Liga side winning courtesy of Saul Niguez’s early goal.
Messi and Barcelona remain in contention for Champions League glory, and face Napoli in their last-16 showdown next week.
Defending champions Liverpool, who eliminated Barca last season in dramatic circumstances, now face a fight to make the next round of the competition.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Atletico, who struck early through Saul and managed to keep a clean sheet despite the visitors having more of the ball.
And, now, Messi has revealed that Barcelona players were talking about the tie beforehand.
“The truth is, no,” he told Mundo Deportivo when asked about whether he was surprised by the result.
“On the day of the draw we talked in the locker room that would be very close because Atletico competes a lot in this competition.
“In two-match duels they are very strong and he showed it again, that they will compete and they will be there.”
Messi then went on to praise Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
The Argentine has come under fire this season having splurged big money on the likes of Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier, Marcos Llorente, Hector Herrera and Mario Hermoso.
Atletico’s new recruits have, by and large, failed to deliver during their time at the club.
And that’s led to talk that Simeone may have made mistakes in the transfer market.
But Messi has backed his compatriot, hailing the Atletico manager.
“I think he did a spectacular job,” the Barcelona star continued.
“Year after year the team is being renewed, players come and go and continue to perform with a long-standing idea that players are convinced of what they do.
“That is why it yields and it has a lot of merit to be so many years and always competing.”
Messi then went on to name Liverpool among the favourites for the Champions League trophy – despite their defeat.
“All are complicated and difficult,” he added.
“Paris went to play Dortmund and lost, Liverpool went to the Atletico field and lost.
“But I think, like that and everything, Liverpool, Juventus, Paris and Madrid are the strongest today.”
Barcelona are next in action against Eibar in La Liga on Saturday (3pm).
