Barcelona's Lionel Messi: Real Madrid and Chelsea biggest threats in UEFA Champions League
Barcelona playmaker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 has pointed out that Chelsea and Real Madrid are the biggest threat to his side in their hope to capture the UEFA Champions league title this ongoing 2010-11 season.
Eight teams remain in the Champions league as the competition approaches its business end; Barcelona are up against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ukraine-c3032 side Shakhtar Donetsk, Spanish club Real Madrid face the challenge of English team Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea host fellow Barclays
Premier League rivals Manchester United whereas Italian side http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan take on German team Schalke.
Many pundits have tipped Barcelona to win the competition this season, the Catalan club have impressed many with their attacking football style; Barcelona are looking to repeat their heroics of 2009 as they became the first Spanish club to win the Spanish
La Liga, Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) and Champions League in the same season.
For Barcelona, not surprisingly, Messi has again been in scintillating form, scoring a staggering 45 goals in all competitions this season with 21 assists also to his name.
Over the last three years, Barcelona have had enormous success and the Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi claims that team effort is the reason behind the club’s achievements.
Messi said, “Here (at Barcelona) everyone knows their role and we complement each other. All of us make each other better. It's the greatness of this team.”
The player added that his team is highly motivated to win the Champions league and also identified Real Madrid and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 as their biggest challengers of the Champions League title.
He added, “Ourselves, Madrid and Chelsea are the favourites for this year.”
Reigning BPL Champions, Chelsea are currently placed third in the BPL standings and surely have a squad to compete in Europe’s elite competition, however, firstly they have to fend off the challenge of BPL leaders Manchester United to progress to the semi-finals.
Real Madrid are also having a fine season, they are challenging Barcelona for the Spanish league title and also meet the Catalans in the Copa del Rey final on the 20th of April, 2011.
Barcelona host Shakhtar Donetsk for the first leg of the Champions league quarter-final on April 6, 2011.
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