Lionel Messi insists Barcelona should be wary of Real Madrid, despite the lattera s inconsistent form.
Barcelona host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Sunday, 22nd March. The game promises to be thoroughly entertaining as both teams should go into the game to win. It wona t be wrong to term the Clasico as the title decider. Only one point separates the two sides and the winner will get to the top of the league and there is a high possibility of the victorious side clinching the title at the end of the season.
Barcelona come into this game on the back of a 1-0 victory over Manchester City which saw them through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League comfortably with a 3-1 aggregate score. They now go into the Clasico with an opportunity to win and possibly bump Real Madrid off the title race by going four points clear.
However, Lionel Messi says the club cannot afford to get carried away in this crucial juncture of the season.
“We are playing well but we cannot get carried away because there is a long way to go,” Messi said.
“We have some big games… first against Madrid and then there are the quarter-finals (of the Champions League) where we will face another tough team.”
Real Madrid looked in great form at the end of last year as they recorded a 22 game winning streak. However, after the Spanish winter break, Real Madrid have been facing fitness issues and an overall lack of consistent performances.
Messi, who has scored 20 goals in 18 games since the turn of the year, added that Real Madrid are the most dangerous when they are in situations like this.
“I have a lot of respect for Madrid,” Messi added. “When Madrid are in this situation it is when they are most dangerous.”
“They have great players. We will go out to play our football and look to win but at the same time we need to be wary of them as much as ever.”
The game on Sunday will be a great encounter as both teams will be fighting for glory. On one hand, Barcelona must avoid defeat to stay on the top and a win will give them a massive advantage over a Los Blancosa in the league. On the other hand, Real Madrid run the risk of letting the title go as anything less than a victory will keep them behind the Catalans.