Messi's arrived: Atletico trembling at prospect of facing Argentine

Throughout the years, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has become a genuine scourge for Atletico Madrid. Barça visit the Wanda Metropolitano this weekend and the Rojiblanco know exactly what awaits them. The presence of Messi is intimidating because experience warns them that a demon is arriving dressed in Blaugrana who doesn't tire of torturing them. His numbers against Atletico are stratospheric, especially in La Liga. 

Messi has played against Atletico on 38 occasions and has scored 29 goals and set up seven more. In addition, the Rojiblanco have struggled to find the antidote to him, given that Barcelona have won 23 of those games, while Atleti have won six. the other nine meetings ended in a draw. 

mESSI EFFECT 

In the league, the Messi effect multiplies. The Argentine has played against them 26 times and averages almost one goal per game (0.92). It invites pessimism for the Colchoneras. With Messi, Barcelona have beaten them 17 times, losing four games. He has scored 24 goals and laid on six more. His power of intimidation is clear. 

All this despite his early games against Atletico not being very productive, with five losses in his first 10 games, four in his first five trips to the Vicente Calderon. However, he did score a brace in his second game there, a 0-6 win in 2006-07. 

The challenge now is to score his first goal at the Wanda Metropolitano, the only La Liga ground he's not scored at. It will be his third league game there. 

The only competition Atletico have been able to stop Messi in is the champions League. In his four games against them, he's not been able to score and has been knocked out by them twice. There has only been one Blaugrana win -- alongside two draws and a loss -- in the games which took place in 2013-2014 and 2015-2016.