Barcelona are in Lionel Messi's hands as they prepare for PSG comeback
A lot will rest on the Argentine if they want to turn around a four-goal deficit at Camp Nou on Wednesday
A challenge as big as the one facing Barcelona this Wednesday at Camp Nou (coming back from 4-0 against PSG) demands the best from the best. It demands that Messi shows off all his talent. Barça's future in the Champions League, whether they like it or not, is in his hands. It's in his boots. In his head.
Barça need the best version of Messi in Europe. And of everyone, as Luis Enrique said after the game against Sporting Gijon. "With everyone's help, and if the stars align, we can turn the game around."
PLUGGED IN AND MOTIVATED
However, it doesn't escape anyone that with a Messi plugged in and motivated, as well as spurred on, Barça will have a better chance against the French side. The Argentine will need an ideal setting to get the best out of himself.
Messi's had many glorious nights at Camp Nou and on Wednesday hopes to add another night to those famous nights which took place against Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Milan. Other teams to suffer Messi are Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen, Celtic and Manchester City.
He was spectacular in the round-of-16 against Bayer Leverkusen (7-1) in 2011-12, scoring five goals. Before he'd scored four in one game in the quarter-final against Arsenal in 2009-10 (a 4-1 win).
Las grandes noches europeas de Leo MessiCreate your own infographics
He has also left his mark against Bayern twice. Both times (2008-09 and 2014-15) he scored a double which helped to ensure progress to the next round. And this season, in the group stage, he scored hat-tricks against Celtic and Manchester City.
La Pulga goes into the game against PSG in great form: five goals in his last four games; 99 braces in his career (19 in the Champions League); 491 goals in 568 games; and freely dishing out assists.
Against Unai Emery's side Messi will play his 113th Champions League game, of which he's won 66. He has scored 93 goals in the competition, 53 at Camp Nou and 40 away from home -- two at neutral venues in the 2009 and 2011 finals.
He knows, as do the fans, that alone he will achieve nothing. He knows he will need his team-mates, too, especially Luis Suarez and Neymar, who he understands perfectly. With the MSN at full gas, the path to the comeback will be flatter.
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Mes a mes: los goles de MessiCreate your own infographics
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