Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann: ‘Shame’ about the Clasico…

Atletico Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann admits ‘it’s a shame Lionel Messi is not available for Barcelona’ when they face Real Madrid in the Clasico.

Sunday’s Clasico will be the first without Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo since 2007, the Barca No 10 sidelined with an arm injury, while the Portuguese joined Juventus over the summer.

“It’s going to be a great match like all the Clasicos,” Griezmann told ESPN.

“It is a shame that Messi is not available for Barca, but they still have the players to win the game. Madrid is in need of a win to go forward. It will be a nice game to watch.

“We are also there fighting like every year. Las year we were second and we have to continue like this.

“We must keep working and improve on the pitch so that we can be there, close to [Barcelona and Real Madrid].

“We have to have that consistency of always being among the top three. We’ve been doing it for many years.

“And then, of course, in one [specific] year everything can happen and especially in this one where everyone has started a little bit like that, dropping points.

“We have to take advantage of it and see where that takes us.”

Tags Antoine Griezmann Clasico
La Liga - Club News