Messi’s return to Madrid; How influential can he act?

Lionel Messi is set to return to the Spanish capital of Madrid to face a team that he had taken on dozens of times when playing for Barcelona.

The draw for the 2021-22 Champions League round of 16 was held on Monday and the 16 top teams recognized their rivals in the next stage.

A mistake during the process led to announcing the results null and void and there came a redraw. The mistake was related to Liverpool and Villarreal. They were in the same group earlier and could not face again but it happened as UEFA agents had made a mistake in putting them in pots.

Without the error, Manchester was drawn against PSG which meant another clash of titans: Messi vs Ronaldo. But this encounter was not meant to be made.

The redraw had its own winners and losers. And of the main losers one can say was Real Madrid. The Spanish team had to face Portugal’s Benfica that is an easier rival than PSG at least on the paper.

PSG, too, can be put in the list of losers as they got the Spanish giant instead of the Red Devils who are not on their best form possible.

Now as the top French and Spanish teams are set to lock horns, attention is being focused on Leo Messi who has a long experience of playing against Real Madrid.

During the staggering 17 seasons of his presence in Spain, Messi has made 45 appearances against Real Madrid, scoring a total of 26 goals and making 14 assists.

His appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu goes back to November 2005 when he passed the ball to Samuel Eto’o for scoring the opening goal.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or has made two hat-tricks against Madrid while converting all of his six penalties. He has also scored two goals from free kick.

In a total of 49 matches against Madrid in La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, and Super Copa, the Argentinian got out of the pitch victorious 19 times. He saw 15 defeats and 11 draws.

The first leg of the encounter is due on February 15 and the second on March 9. Forecasting the result of the tie is a complicated risk and betters are invited to double check their bids.

The match will certainly attract fans across the globe, from America to Asia and from Europe to Africa. One of the regions that see an increase in betting activities is North American states who are also able to services such as best betting odds in Canada or in US.

 The good news for Real Madrid fans is that Messi has failed to be on the score-sheet in the last five encounters. However, we should never forget what an amazing player he is.

His emotional departure from Spain to France happened this summer but he has failed to make impression in PSG and fulfill the expectations.

Despite all these, the Argentinian showed determination in reaction to the draw. "The objective for PSG is to win the Champions League, that's everyone's aim," he said while visiting the Dubai Expo 2020, Marca reported.

"The team has been very close before. It's an essential competition for all teams. We'll try to win it."

"It was a very big change after so much time in the same place, so it wasn't easy but, we're all doing well in what is a spectacular city and at one of the best teams in the world."

The comments show that the 34-year-old is aiming to win his fifth UEFA Champions League trophy and the only one so far without wearing Barcelona jersey.

Setting the case of Messi aside, the encounter can be of enourmous importance for two other PSG players: Segio Ramos and Kylian Mbappe.

After playing for Madrid giants for some 16 years (2005-2021), Ramos opted for a new challenge this summer and departed for Paris. He had been one of the key players of Real Madrid in the defensive line these years.

This will be the first time that Ramos will play in Madrid against a team that has been his home for 16 years. One should also wait for the reaction of Real Madrid fans who paid a great respect to the defender in these years.

The French striker Mbappe is the other player that one should keep an eye on in the upcoming matches. Rumors regarding Mbappe's move to Real Madrid have been around for the past few years, especially during the time when his compatriot Zinedine Zidane was in charge of the Spanish team.

Mbappe, himself, has not rejected the rumors and at times has indicated his interest in playing in Madrid. Hence, he may have an extra incentive for the upcoming matches to prove his abilities.

The home and away matches can be thrilling as some of the sports newspapers have also named them as the encounter of century and for sure, the world is waiting for the match days.