Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Messi in poor form as Barcelona visits Juventus

by German Press Agency - DPA

BARCELONA Oct 27, 2020 - 2:56 pm GMT+3
Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks dejected after the La Liga match against Real Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 24, 2020. (Reuters Photo)
Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks dejected after the La Liga match against Real Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 24, 2020. (Reuters Photo)
by German Press Agency - DPA Oct 27, 2020 2:56 pm
RECOMMENDED
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema applauds as he is substituted during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad confirm Karim Benzema signing

karim-benzema

It was preseason 2018 when Lionel Messi took the microphone at the Camp Nou and told supporters the team would do everything to win what he called "that beautiful cup."

The Champions League has eluded him since then. Wednesday's match against Juventus in Italy will in some way indicate how close Barcelona is to make a real challenge for the trophy this season.

Barca’s comfortable opening 5-1 win over Hungarian side Ferencvaros at home was expected, but an away game against the Italian champion will be a better way to measure what's to come.

After Messi's bold statement in 2018, the team crashed out in the semifinals to Liverpool at Anfield in 2019 and was destroyed 8-2 last season by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

Messi's form does not inspire a great deal of confidence at the Catalan club either.

He has scored twice so far this season for Barcelona, but both times from the penalty spot. He is running more than ever, but chances are harder to come by with Luis Suarez, the player who gave him more assists than any other in his career, now at Atletico Madrid.

Messi's performance against Real Madrid on Saturday was a microcosm of his season so far. There were moments of magic, but there were also long spells when he struggled to make an impact.

He drew fouls from Casemiro, who was booked, and Nacho in the first half, and it was his pass over the top for Jordi Alba that set the left-back clear to cross for Ansu Fati to score.

He then had the chance to give Barcelona a better advantage only for Thibaut Courtois to save the shot at his near post.

But after the half-time break, Messi faded, unable to lift his team after they fell behind to Ramos' penalty.

When the whistle blew at full-time, he had touched the ball 98 times but finished without a goal, and has now gone six El Clasicos, 515 minutes, without scoring. Since Cristiano Ronaldo left La Liga, Messi hasn't scored against Real Madrid.

With Ronaldo's presence in the Champions League fixture still on hold and depending on a negative coronavirus test result before the match, all eyes will be on how Messi reacts while playing his old opponent's team.

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has had to tread carefully around his captain so far.

Koeman had indicated that he wanted more from Messi but somehow rectified that when he said before the Ferencvaros game: "I am happy with him and the way he is working. I don't have any complaints. And I have no doubt about the performances we are going to see from him in the next few games."

Koeman knows the best way he can help Messi is playing the right players alongside him.

On Saturday against Madrid that meant lining up 17-year-old Ansu Fati and Pedri, and Philippe Coutinho. Fati is Barcelona's top scorer and will surely keep his place in the starting lineup against Juventus, but Coutinho is injured and Pedri will be rested.

That means Antoine Griezmann comes back into contention. It's no secret that the two have not hit it off on the pitch so far.

It is in both their interests to change the situation against Juventus. And it may be the only chance Barcelona has to bring that "beautiful cup" back to the Camp Nou.

RECOMMENDED
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema applauds as he is substituted during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad confirm Karim Benzema signing

karim-benzema
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    champions league barcelona juventus lionel messi cristiano ronaldo football
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    A general view of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in Purple Mountai, Nanjing, China. (Photo courtesy by Ahmet Faruk Işık)

    Seed of modern Turkish diplomacy in China: Nanjing city

    Nanjing
    A fragment of the statue of Pan, the Greek god of shepherds and flocks in Greek mythology, discovered in Saraçhane Archaeology Park, Istanbul, Türkiye, June 1, 2023. (DHA Photo)

    Excavations in Istanbul unearth statue of Greek deity Pan

    pan

    'Ulysses of Istanbul': Celebrating James Joyce's masterpiece

    james-joyce

    Ancient Roman garrison unearthed at Zerzevan Castle in Türkiye

    ZERZEVAN-CASTLE
    No Image
    The most bizarre airports in the world
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021