Goal-hungry Messi targets El Clasico
Print Edition
LIONEL Messi took a step closer to the Champions League scoring record against Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday and now turns his target to the El Clasico with Real Madrid on Saturday and the all-time La Liga goals tally.
His partnership with Neymar is blossoming this season after a slow start and he set the Brazilian up for the first goal against Ajax before striking the other in the 3-1 win to give him 69 Champions League goals, two short of Raul’s record.
Both were taken off in the second half with coach Luis Enrique looking to rest them ahead of the Real game and Barcelona’s mood of relaxation against a clearly inferior Ajax almost came back to bite it.
Anwar El Ghazi knocked home a loose ball inside the area to raise Dutch hopes before Sandro Ramirez wrapped up the points for the Catalan side.
In La Liga Messi has 250 goals, one short of the scoring record of Telmo Zarra for Athletic Bilbao in the 1940’s and ‘50s, but he denies it will be on his mind against Real. “The record is the least important, what is important is that we have a good game and get the win,” he said.
Barcelona leads the La Liga table with Real four points behind in third but it is in hot form with 25 goals in five games. “It is El Clasico, it would be great to win but still it doesn’t decide anything as there is a long way to go in the league.”
Barcelona fans can look ahead to the mouth-watering prospect of Luis Suarez linking up with deadly duo as he returns from his four-month biting ban and could make his debut.
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