MX23RW : Tuesday, January 7 01:25:37| >> :120:10052:10052:

Eden Hazard lauds 'out of this world' Barcelona ace Lionel Messi

Hazard lauds 'out of this world' Messi
© Offside
Eden Hazard believes that Chelsea's meeting with Barcelona later this month will be "beautiful" for the neutral, particularly with Lionel Messi involved.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has joked that Barcelona have a player in Lionel Messi who "is not from this world", as he prepares to lock horns with the superstar forward.

Messi has enjoyed yet another impressive campaign in front of goal, finding the net 26 times in all competitions to keep Barca on course for a domestic and European treble.

Standing in Barcelona's way in the Champions League is a two-legged tie with Chelsea in the last 16, which Hazard believes could go either way despite the contrasting form of the two sides.

"You know, they have a guy who is not from this world," he told Marca. "He's different, a 'superclass'. But this is not about one player, it is about the whole team.

"It's a beautiful match. This season we are not the same as last season, of course, and they are very good but in the end it is a cup tie and you never know what happens. That's why we love football. I'm pretty sure we can beat them if we play together. We'll see."

Chelsea play host to Barcelona on February 20, before travelling to Camp Nou for the reverse fixture three weeks later.

ID:318309: cacheID:318309:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2306:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steve Cook and Eden Hazard in action during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Bournemouth on January 31, 2018
Read Next:
Hazard: 'Every PL season is different'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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!