Lionel Messi has warned that Bayern Munich will carry ‘extra motivation’ tonight against Barcelona and that they are ‘stronger than last year’.
The Germans are hosts this evening for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against La Blaugrana.
“Any opponent in these semi-finals would be hard, but Bayern this year have been very, very good,” reflected Messi in conversation with The Times of India pre-match.
“They have been playing at a high level and scoring a lot of goals.
“They will also have a lot of extra motivation after what happened at the end of the 2012 competition when they lost to Chelsea in their own field.
“I think that their desire to win the title is even greater this time. And Bayern are stronger this year than last, in my opinion.”
Messi, whose availability for the match is still shrouded in doubt, was pushed for comment on the ‘what if’ scenario of a Clasico final against Real Madrid.
“I do not speak of the final, Bayern only, and if we reach the final then we do not care who we play when we are there.
“But, a final at Wembley against Madrid would be a special game for many things and for many people.
“If we face Madrid in the final then it will be a great show, that’s for sure.”
