Zidane hopes Lionel Messi’s forty fifth ‘clasico’ shouldn’t be his final

Lionel Messi is ready to play his forty fifth – and probably remaining – “clásico” match towards Real Madrid.
The star standing of the Barcelona ahead, whose contract expires this summer season, has been constructed on quite a few titles and scoring information, in addition to his exploits in one in all soccer’s high rivalries.
But not even Real coach Zinedine Zidane desires Saturday to be Messi’s final likelihood to torment Madrid.
“I don’t want this to be the last ‘clásico’ for Messi,” Zidane mentioned on Friday. “Hopefully he stays at Barcelona. He’s good there and it’s also good for the Spanish league. We know how good a player he is.”
Messi, who turns 34 in June, was pissed off in his try to go away Barcelona final summer season. He mentioned in December that he’ll resolve his future when his season is over and he can stroll away at no cost if he desires. Since then, Joan Laporta has returned to energy because the membership’s president with the purpose of convincing Messi to signal one other contract, however the participant stays silent.
Messi has scored in a “clásico” a document 26 occasions beginning when he netted his first hat trick for Barcelona at age 19 in a 3-3 draw with Real in 2007.
For a decade, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner ate up his private rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, with each stars exchanging targets and stellar performances to steer their sides.
Real Madrid’s head coach Zinedine Zidane.. (AP/File)
But since Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, Messi has failed to attain in six consecutive matches towards Madrid.
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman hopes that Messi can finish that drought and ship a victory that may elevate his workforce into first place earlier than present chief Atlético Madrid visits Real Betis on Sunday. After this weekend, there will likely be eight rounds left within the season.
“I hope that Messi can prove decisive because we need him to play at his best and for Barça to also show its best version,” Koeman mentioned. “For our attack, our passing game, and to create scoring chances, we need Leo.”
Messi leads the league with 23 targets this season. After a shaky begin underneath Koeman, Barcelona has discovered its stride and is undefeated in 19 straight rounds, together with a run of 9 consecutive wins on the highway within the league.
For a decade, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner ate up his private rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, with each stars exchanging targets and stellar performances to steer their sides. (Reuters Photo)
While defenders Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto recovered from accidents in time to make Barcelona’s squad checklist, Messi will face a Madrid protection that’s lacking its two beginning centerbacks.
Sergio Ramos is out with a leg damage, whereas Raphael Varane is isolating after he examined constructive for the coronavirus. In their place, Zidane may play Nacho Fernández and Éder Militão, who crammed in nicely on Tuesday in a 3-1 win over Liverpool in a Champions League first-leg quarterfinal.
“Ramos and Varane are important defenders, and one (Ramos) is their captain and gives them leadership on the field, but they showed against Liverpool that they have other players who can step in,” Koeman mentioned.
For Karim Benzema, who leads Madrid with 18 targets within the league, the important thing will likely be which high-powered workforce can dominate possession and apply the simplest stress with out it.
“When we press, we have to go all out,” the French striker mentioned. “And when we have the ball, we have to develop good possessions, because they don’t like chasing the ball.”
Madrid, the defending league champion, comes into the match at its Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in third place, three factors behind Atlético and two factors adrift of Barcelona.
“We will go on the field aiming to win because for us this is a final,” Benzema mentioned.