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Messi: In Barcelona they always want Real Madrid to lose

Xinhua, May 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona striker, Leo Messi admits he would rather see Barcelona' s conquerors, Atletico Madrid, win this season' s Champions League than their traditional rivals, Real Madrid.

Atletico knocked Barca out of the quarter-finals of the tournament and after beating Bayern Munich in the semis, will face Real Madrid, who had a much easier route to the final with ties against Wolfsburg and Manchester City.

Speaking to ESPN, Messi made it very clear which of the two sides he and his companions would be cheering on May 28th.

"It would be a pleasure for Barcelona fans if Atletico won the Champions League," he said, adding that "in Barcelona they prefer it if (Real) Madrid don' t win anything."

"It was a big blow for us to be knocked out of the Champions League, but Atletico are a very uncomfortable side to play against, what (Atletico coach) Diego Simeone has done has a lot of merit," commented the striker.

Barca will themselves be looking to deny Real Madrid the BBVA Primera Liga title on the last day of the Spanish season next Saturday.

The Catalans take a one-point lead to Granada knowing that if they win Real Madrid can' t catch them, while failure for Real Madrid to win away to Deportivo la Coruna would also make Barca league champions no matter what their result in the Los Carmines Stadium.

"Leagues are always very difficult to win, so we have to win this one and they we will see what it is worth," said Messi, whose side can still win a domestic double if they beat Sevilla in the Cup final on May 22nd.

"We have two finals we need to win: one in the League and the other in the Cup. It would be great if we could end the season with two titles," he concluded. Endit