Lionel Messi: Barcelona love playing Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

The first Clasico of this season is played on Wednesday when Barcelona host Real Madrid at the Nou Camp and Lionel Messi has explained why the team tends to perform better at the Bernabeu.

The defending champions have won the previous 4 matches at the Spanish Capital including the two visits in 2019, a 0-1 League victory in March and a 0-3 win in February in a Copa Del Rey draw.

The Argentine believes that the reason why Barcelona tends to perform better at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu than at the Nou Camp is due to the fact that the game is more open at the rival stadium as Los Blancos desire to attack for their fans.

"“When we play at the Bernabeu, many more spaces are generated. They attack us more because they have the obligation as the host team and people push them for that,” Messi said in an interview for MARCA"

The club and country captain claimed that the Los Blancos play a different game when they visit Camp Nou as they tend to defend more tightly as they look for counter-attack opportunities instead.

"“At the Camp Nou they play another type of match, sitting a little further back, they are closer together and hit on the counter-attack because they have very fast players up front. At the Bernabeu, we play 90 minutes equally. Here the game becomes more locked and is more complicated.” He added."

Barcelona host Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Wednesday and look to claim the three points as the winner of this clash will see themselves atop of the La Liga table.

More from Everything Barca

With all eyes on the big clash, Messi recalled the time when Clasico was not just about the two clubs proving who is better but also a clash between the two biggest football stars in the world, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who spent nine years with the galacticos before joining Juventus in 2018.

Former Chelsea star, Eden Hazard has since taken over the Portuguese’s role but has yet to live up to his famous stature. Messi was asked about the Belgian international and his role to fill the massive void left behind by Ronaldo, Messi responded,

"“Hazard has a lot of quality. He is a different football player who can unbalance [defences], but I think he is different to Cristiano, with different characteristics. It is very difficult to replace Cristiano, but Hazard is also a great player.” Leo said."

You can watch the interview with Marca below, where Messi address a number of personal questions before the first El Clasico of the season,

Next. Zidane’s plan to stop Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in El Clasico. dark

Who do you think will win on Wednesday?

Home/FC Barcelona News