Lionel Messi has revealed that he’d love Celtic to join Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The world’s greatest player can have a direct bearing on that on Wednesday night when he leads the line for Barcelona against Benfica.
A home win will mean that Celtic just need to take a point from Spartak Moscow to take Neil Lennon’s side into the knock-out stage of the Champions League.
Before the game against Celtic Messi was pictured in the board-room with a 125th anniversary Celtic top with the whole experience making a big impression on the Argentinian.
“The Celtic fans deserve to be in Europe,” he said. “They have been amazing in both games we have played against them recently.
“We knew what they were going to be like in Glasgow but the way they were in Barcelona after they had just lost in the way they did was amazing. I have never seen anything like that before.”
While Celtic have their own job to do against Spartak Moscow some fans have been concerned that Barcelona may field a shadow side at home to Benfica.
The Catalan’s have enjoyed the best ever start to the season in la Liga and have already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Messi has his own targets to aim for and is on course to break Gerd Muller’s record of 85 goals scored during the calendar year of 1972.
A double against Atletico Bilbao on Saturday took Messi’s tally for the year to 84 meaning that two goals against Benfica would set a new record- and almost certainly increase his popularity among Celtic fans worldwide.
CLICK HERE for Spartak 2-4 Zenit (video)
Follow Video Celts on Twitter and Facebook
Leo we love you,go break that record friend.
Leo’s abilities are remarkable and astonishing on and off the pitch. Its unconfutable that he is the greatest player to play the game in this century. Why i will not continue my sentiments on praising leo is just because i know u have spared this time to read something topical or new about the great wizard and not somebody’s composed sentiment.
Nice words indeed, but will mean nothing if we do not take care of our own business.
Of the possible group winners, I’d be happy to face Schalke, Shaktar or even Man Utd – would definitely want to avoid Dortmund though.
Must win to be sure of a urging. I can absolutely handle winning and Benfica still going through if they beat Barca, but it benfica lose and we don’t win or at least draw? THAT would be heartbreaking.
“to be sure of anything
Call the f**king grammar police.. Knob.