AFP/Barcelona
Fresh from becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in La Liga, Lionel Messi will have his sights on more history as he looks to repeat that feat in the Champions League when Barcelona visit APOEL Nicosia tonight.
Messi’s double in the Catalans’ 2-0 win at Ajax three weeks ago took him level with Real Madrid legend Raul’s record tally of 71 goals in the competition and ensured Barca’s progress to the last 16 for an 11th consecutive season.
However, Luis Enrique’s men still need at least a point in Cyprus to ensure they can win Group F with victory over Paris Saint-Germain at home in their final group match early next month.
Messi’s latest record feat overshadowed arguably Barca’s best performance of the season so far in crushing Europa League holders Sevilla 5-1 at the weekend, with the Argentine scoring his 27th hat-trick for the club along with goals from Neymar and Ivan Rakitic.
Luis Suarez’s attempts to break his Barcelona duck were frustrated once more but Enrique has no concerns over the Urguayan’s ability to find the back of the net as he again proved his worth with a fourth assist in as many games.
“It will come. To have a goalscorer of that quality and generosity is marvellous,” said Enrique. “They are all playing for each other. No one doubts that Suarez will score many goals for Barcelona.”
Rakitic also hailed the importance of such a resounding win after a difficult couple of weeks which saw Barca lose to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo in consecutive games before struggling to overcome Almeria 2-1 ahead of the international break.
“It was important to play well and recover good feelings, but above all to regain the confidence of the fans.”
The Croatian is likely to team up with Xavi Hernandez in midfield as Andres Iniesta has been left out of the 22-man squad that will travel to Nicosia on Monday, despite nearing a return to action after a month out.
Thomas Vermaelen has also been left out due to the recurrence of a hamstring injury which has prevented him from making his Barca debut since a summer move from Arsenal.
Three narrow defeats from four matches mean APOEL cannot repeat their remarkable run to the Champions League quarter-finals in the 2011/12 season, but they too still have the prospect of European football into the new year to fight for.
Giorgos Donis’s men trail Ajax by just a point and face the Dutch champions in two weeks time in Amsterdam in what is likely to be a decisive match to decide who claims third place and the consolation prize of dropping into the last 32 of the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid’s Raul Jimenez is waiting in the wings should Mario Mandzukic lose his fitness battle for tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Olympiakos Piraeus and says he is ready to make his mark on the team.
The striker has made a slow start since his arrival at the Calderon in the close season from Mexican side America but he has shown glimpses that he could be the ‘new David Villa’.
Although he has given the Mexican international limited chances, coach Diego Simeone has plenty of belief in the 23-year-old Jimenez, whose pace and movement has earned comparisons with that of Villa, who left at the end of the last campaign.
Mandzukic picked up a back injury in the 3-1 victory over Malaga in La Liga on Saturday and Jimenez, who replaced him, looked lively, causing plenty of problems for the Andalusian side.
Jimenez is now pushing for a starting place against Olympiakos, who beat Atletico at home, but it depends on the fitness of the Croat.
Atletico lead Group A on nine points and can seal qualification for the knockout stage with a win over Olympiakos who are tied with Juventus in second place on six points.
“I am happy here. When I arrived, nobody said it was going to be easy,” Jimenez told reporters. “I have a lot of ambition and the desire to progress and make my own history here.
“At the moment, I need to keep going and adapt myself to the team. It is a case of going step by step and you never stop learning new things.
“I have a lot of belief in what I can do and it is what you need, along with working hard, to make an impact when you are given a chance in games.”
Atletico will be looking to take advantage of an Olympiakos side who could well be rusty with league fixtures having been suspended earlier this month following an attack on a refereeing official.
Olympiakos coach Michel is full of praise for Simeone and is expecting a tough clash. “I know the mentality of Simeone very well and I think he is an incredible person,” the Spaniard said.
“Hopefully, things will work out for us but Atletico are a strong side and slight favourites.”
Lionel Messi’s double in the Catalans’ 2-0 win at Ajax three weeks ago took him level with Real Madrid legend Raul’s record tally of 71 goals in the c
