In-form Messi prepares to sink PSG again

Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2014 by Marca.com

Lionel Messi's match-winning performances at Barcelona are the stuff of legend. The Argentine is set to do battle with PSG on Wednesday at the Camp Nou in a repeat of the 2012/13 Champions League quarter-final.

After picking up an injury during the first leg of that quarter-final tie against PSG at the Parc des Princes, which finished 2-2, the Argentine spent the entire week wrapped in cotton wool. He started the second leg on the bench, just in case he was needed. After all, a goalless draw would have been enough to see the Catalans through to the semis. Javier Pastore broke the deadlock on 50 minutes, which forced Messi off the bench to save the day.

The star came on injured and took just nine minutes to initiate the move that culminated in Pedro's equaliser, thus saving the game and the tie, but the damage was done and the Argentine's form dipped for the rest of the season.

Now on a rich run of form, Messi will again be Barcelona's trump card against PSG. The Catalans desperately need a win to qualify top of their group. Having knocked out the French side two years ago whilst injured, Messi now prepares to face them mentally and physically at the top of his game. The Argentine has scored three hat-tricks in his last four matches.