Barcelona icon, Lionel Messi has picked out four clubs that
he sees as the biggest rivals to Barcelona in the competition this season, with
the last-16 ties already under way.
Barcelona were knocked out in the quarterfinals in 2018 by
Roma, before being dumped by eventual champions Liverpool in the semifinal of
last season’s edition but Messi believes four other sides can win it apart from
his club side.
Barcelona will travel next week to face Napoli in the first
leg of their last-16 clash in a competition they haven't won since 2015.
In Messi’s assessment, it’s champions Liverpool, Juventus,
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid who can stand in Barcelona’s way this
season.
“All [the teams] are complicated and difficult. Paris went
to play Dortmund and lost, Liverpool went to Atletico’s field and lost, but I
think, like that and everything, Liverpool, Juventus, Paris and Madrid are the
strongest today,” Messi told a wide-Mundo Deportivo.
Messi believes Liverpool can still win it despite Jurgen
Klopp's side’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, in the first leg of their last-16
clash.
“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,” Messi
said.
“In two-match duels they are very strong and they showed it
again, that they will compete and they will be there
Talking about Man City's UEFA ban, Messi said;
“It is surprising because nobody thought that such a thing
could happen, so powerful,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo.
“Paris [Saint-Germain) paid a fine or I don’t know how it
went. If in the end City does not play in the Champions League for what it is,
with the players, the club, and the money it spends, it will be weird.”
Messi added: “If City do not enter the Champions League
there are many players that may look for an exit, or maybe not.
“The Champions League is very attractive so two years
without playing, it can be screwed.”
