MX23RW : Wednesday, July 3 13:46:44| >> :60:2942:2942:

Diego Simeone praises "genius" Lionel Messi

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone says that his side were beaten by a "piece of genius" from Lionel Messi to hand Barcelona the La Liga title.

Diego Simeone has described Lionel Messi's goal as a "piece of genius" following Barcelona's title-clinching win against Atletico Madrid in La Liga this evening.

The Argentina international scored the only goal in his side's 1-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon, sealing the Catalan side's seventh title in 10 years.

At his post-match press conference, Simeone told reporters: "First of all to congratulate Barca, they deserved to be champions, above all for their superb second half of season. This is absolutely deserved.

"We can just congratulate them, they reacted very well from December. They have excellent players who can decide a game in any moment. They now have two chances to achieve the treble, which is something now in their own hands.

"In the moment when game was most under control, a piece of genius from Lionel appeared. Although it was also a defensive slip from us, but it was a great goal which made them more comfortable in the game. They then did not need to attack. Above all the image that we were competing, and just beaten by piece of genius from Messi."

Atletico sit third in the table following a third straight game without a win.

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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona in Amsterdam, November 5, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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