MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 23:55:30| >> :120:4693:4693:
[monks data]
Attendance: 97,183
Barcelona logo
Champions League | Round of 16
Mar 14, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

3-0

Messi (3', 63'), Dembele (20')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets: 'Lionel Messi will be extra motivated'

Busquets: 'Messi will be extra motivated'
© Offside
Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets says that Lionel Messi will be "even more motivated" to score against Chelsea after the birth of his child at the weekend.

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has revealed that he expects a high-quality performance from Lionel Messi against Chelsea.

At the weekend, Messi was forced to withdraw from the squad to face Malaga due to the birth of his child, but the Argentine will return for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie at Camp Nou.

Rather than being distracted by life off the pitch, Busquets has predicted that Messi will be "even more motivated" to get on the scoresheet against the Premier League side.

At a press conference, the 29-year-old told reporters: "I think that he is going to be okay and even more motivated.

"Physically he is going to be great and be more relaxed. I hope he is going to be perfect and play like he usually plays."

Last month's first leg at Stamford Bridge ended in a 1-1 draw.

ID:320835: cacheID:320835:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2065:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sergio Busquets in action for Barcelona in October 2016
Read Next:
Busquets: 'We will try to help Gomes'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Monaco431010
4Dortmund43019
5Aston Villa33009
6Man City42117
7Brest32107
8Inter Milan32107
9Juventus42117
10B. Leverkusen42117
11Lille42117
12Arsenal32107
13Celtic42117
14Dinamo Zagreb42117
15AC Milan42026
16Feyenoord32016
17Barcelona32016
18Benfica32016
19Real Madrid42026
20Atalanta31205
21PSV41215
22Stuttgart31114
23Sparta Prague31114
24PSG31114
25Bayern31023
26Brugge31023
27Girona41033
28Atletico31023
29Shakhtar30121
30Bologna40131
31RB Leipzig40040
32Sturm Graz40040
33Salzburg30030
34Red Star30030
35Young Boys30030
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!