We’re pretty sure Lionel Messi can smell the blood of an Englishman.
Once again, the Argentine made light work of one of our own in the Champions League, helping his Barcelona side to a relatively straight-forward 4-2 win over Spurs at Wembley last night.
He’s now scored 22 goals in his last 20 games against English opposition, which more or less settles the debate as to whether the world-renowned number 10 could cut it in the Premier League.
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In fact, Barca’s humbling of Spurs could have been over at half-time, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side struggled to deal with Messi in his new deeper role.
However, the ‘home’ side can be happy with their spirited performance in the second-half – with Harry Winks remembering how to play football around the 50 minute mark and Harry Kane netting a superb goal to keep them in the game for the majority of the 90 minutes.
But it was all to no avail.
Ultimately, Spurs fans woke up today with a feeling that Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City fans have all previously felt in recent years – which means all the top sides in England have now been on the losing side of Messi and co.
So let’s have a closer look at how he’s fared against the other ‘Big Six’ teams
Arsenal
You’ve gotta feel a little sorry for Arsenal fans.
In six appearances against the Gunners, Messi has scored a brilliant nine times – including his famous four goal haul in their quarter-final clash back in 2010.
He also bagged a brace in the last visit to Arsenal in 2016.
Chelsea
It took Messi nine games… but he finally manged to find the net against Chelsea in last season’s Champions League round of 16.
Scoring in both legs – including two at the Nou Camp – he was the star of the show as Barca ran out 4-1 aggregate winners.
He has also registered three assists against the Blues, meaning he’s had a hand in six goals in total.
Not a bad record against his supposed ‘bogey team.’
Man United
Messi has only scored twice against United in the four games he’s faced them – but they were both in two separate Champions League finals.
In 2009 and 2011 Messi ran rings around United and was Man of the Match in the later final, while the only other encounter was the semi-final in 2008 when Paul Scholes made the headlines for that goal.
Man City
Man City have endured some fairly terrifying encounters against Barcelona and Messi, although they still only hold the second-worse record against him (behind Arsenal, of course).
With six goals in six games and a further two assists, the Argentine has enjoyed his playing time against the Sky Blues.
Yet another Premier League club sick of the sight of him.
Liverpool
The last team standing.
Liverpool have played Messi’s Barca only twice in his long career; when they faced-off in the round of 16 back in 2007.
Amazingly, he failed to score in either leg as the Reds went through to the quarter-finals.
Should they meet again, it’s a fair assumption he’ll want to right that wrong.
He probably will.
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