After Argentina Miracle, Messi to Lead Barcelona at Atletico

Friday 47 Sports Friday, October 13, 2017 After Argentina miracle, Messi to lead Barcelona at Atletico

Star forward will have little chance to rest

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi has willed Forget Neymar Argentina into the World Cup. Now he can When Neymar bolted for Paris Saint- exhale and get back to what he does best: Germain in August, Barcelona entered into Keeping Barcelona atop the Spanish league. panic mode and scrambled to buy players to Just when the stakes couldn’t have been high- fill the gap left by the Brazil striker. It had to er, Messi struck three goals to bring Argentina break a club record for spending on a trans- back for a 3-1 win at Ecuador on Tuesday and fer to pry Ousmane Dembele from Borussia seize a last-minute ticket to Russia. The star Dortmund, only for the France forward to forward will have little chance to rest, howev- tear a tendon in his left leg in just his third er, with Barcelona counting on him to lead the appearance. team in its visit to But throughout the Atletico Madrid turmoil and turnover, tomorrow in the Messi has responded Spanish capital. by playing one of his Messi has won a Playing one of best periods of foot- combined 17 trophies his best periods ball. The 30-year-old for Barcelona in the Messi has 11 goals in Champions League, of football seven league matches, Spanish league and including one four- Copa del Rey. But his goal outing and a tre- success with Barcelona ble. That has helped has only increased the Barcelona outscore pressure on him to deliver silverware for opponents 23-2 in the league. He has also QUITO: Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring Argentina. So far, he has lifted Argentina to netted twice in the Champions League in only finals in the World Cup and Copa wins over Juventus and Sporting Lisbon. against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifying America. Argentina struggled to produce goals Atletico is the most serious test yet for soccer match at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium. — AP throughout South American qualifying for the Barcelona in the league. Yet, despite its rep- World Cup heading into the must-win match in utation as one of the toughest defensive dium. Atletico hosts Barcelona for the first Champions League. Barcelona leads sec- Quito. And its chances looked grim when sides in Spain, Atletico is one of Messi’s time at its new Wanda Metropolitano ond-place Sevilla by five points. Atletico is Ecuador scored in the first minute. “It would’ve favorite victims. Messi has scored against Stadium. fourth and trails the pacesetter by six points. been crazy if Argentina didn’t play the World Atletico 27 times in 34 matches across all Atletico is unbeaten in the league, Real Madrid is seven points adrift before Cup,” Messi said after his hat trick. competitions, including 12 at its former sta- although it lost to Chelsea 2-1 at home in the visiting Getafe on Saturday. — AP

Sogut, indicated talks with Arsenal were pro- atmosphere will be brilliant and it is a Ozil, Sanchez may gressing positively. “That’s my understanding, Mourinho’s game which you dare not lose as a player.” yes,” said Wenger. “I always said the fact that Particular focus will be on United’s 75 leave in January, we didn’t find an agreement last year doesn’t United set for million pounds ($98 million) Belgian strik- mean the player will necessarily leave. Both er Romelu Lukaku, who has been in prolif- players look happy here and overall I hope the ic form, scoring in 12 of his last 13 games says Wenger situation can be turned around.” biggest test yet for club and country. The powerful for- ward joined United from Everton during Wilshere in ‘best form’ the close-season and has been an instant LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Ozil could feature at Watford, having MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho’s unbeat- success - but there are still some who conceded yesterday he may have no option but returned to training following a knee injury. But en Manchester United face the biggest question whether he can be just as effec- to sell star players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Sanchez is due to be assessed after playing in test yet of their title credentials when they tive against better opponents. Ozil in the January transfer window. The pair are Chile’s 3-0 loss to Brazil on Wednesday, which visit Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow-a fix- While Lukaku - and United - will want both out of contract at the end of the season and ended their hopes of qualifying for the World ture that always has a little extra spice. to prove that they are the real deal, are yet to agree new deals. As things stand, they Cup. “I will have to speak to him,” Wenger said. United are second in the Premier League, Liverpool badly need to kick-start their will be able to leave the Emirates Stadium for “Yesterday afternoon I watched the whole Brazil level on 19 points with neighbors campaign after a shaky beginning. free, meaning January will be Arsenal’s last against Chile game to see how difficult the game Manchester City, but so far Mourinho’s Juergen Klopp’s side have taken just five opportunity to cash in on their two most high- was. “I must say he got some special treatment- side have yet to face any of last season’s points from their last four games, leaving profile players. it was a very physical game and mentally I will top five. them seven points behind the Manchester “It is possible,” Wenger told a press confer- have to assess the situation when he comes back Six wins from their opening seven clubs. The exciting attacking talent in the ence ahead of his side’s trip to Watford on tomorrow.” games, with 21 goals scored and only two team, despite the loss to injury of Sadio Saturday. “Once you’re in our kind of situation, Centre-back Shkodran Mustafi also endured conceded, have raised expectations at Old Mane who is out for six weeks with a we have envisaged every solution, yes.” Asked if a miserable international break, the Germany Trafford, but the coming weeks should give hamstring injury, should test the United Arsenal had set a deadline for contract negotia- international suffering a thigh injury against a stronger indication of just how ready defence that has had a relatively comfort- tions with the pair to conclude, Wenger replied: Azerbaijan that will sideline him for four to six United are for a real push for the title. able campaign so far. “No. Not at the moment.” Chile forward weeks. But his absence will soon be offset by the Spurs visit Old Trafford on Oct 28 and then Former Liverpool striker and manager Sanchez, 28, joined Arsenal from Barcelona in return of Laurent Koscielny, who is closing on a a week later United travel to Stamford Kenny Dalglish expects Mourinho to pro- July 2014, a year after 28-year-old Germany comeback from an Achilles injury. “Koscielny has Bridge to take on defending champions tect his defence with a cautious approach, playmaker Ozil’s arrival from Real Madrid. a definite final test tomorrow,” Wenger said. “At Chelsea, Mourinho’s former club. similar to how they played in last season’s The signings electrified Arsenal’s fan base, the moment, he’s not available. He trained on his The North West derby has always had 1-1 draw on Merseyside. “Last year, when but for all their quality, the duo have thus far own and the first signs are positive, so we decid- an extra edge and even though the lack of United came to Liverpool, Jose Mourinho been unable to end the club’s 14-year wait for ed to give him a test tomorrow.” Striker Danny local players for both clubs could take parked the bus. But it wasn’t just the one the Premier League title. Sanchez has been Welbeck is back in contention after a groin away some of the needle from the game, bus, I think it was a couple of double linked with a number of major clubs, among injury, while left-back Sead Kolasinac faces a late the passion from the stands continues to deckers he put there,” said Dalglish. “I them Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. fitness test on a hip complaint. Jack Wilshere is create a special atmosphere. “Anfieldaway think United will come and set up quite Ozil, meanwhile, is reported to have attracted yet to play a minute of Premier League football is the ultimate test, mentally and physically defensively... “I think Jose will try to make interest from Manchester United, who are man- and has lost his place in the England squad, but with the intensity,” former United captain sure the pressure is on Liverpool, but the aged by his former Real Madrid boss Jose Wenger believes the midfielder is on course to Gary Neville told Sky Sports. “There’s pressure is on everyone when it comes to Mourinho. Earlier this week, Ozil’s agent, Erkut go to next year’s World Cup in Russia. — AFP obviously less home grown talent but the a game like that.” —Reuters