Messi reveals why Celtic belong in the Champions League

Lionel Messi says Celtic belong in the Champions League and believes this weekend’s friendly is ideal preparation for next week’s qualifier.

The Barcelona forward has been a known admirer of Celtic fans and their backing of the club, especially on European nights at Paradise when the two sides faced each other in the past.

Celtic are preparing to take on Barcelona in Dublin’s Aviva stadium this weekend before welcoming Astana to Paradise for the second leg of their third qualifying round tie with the Kazakhstan champions.

Speaking about their history and standing in the competition to the Daily Record, the 29-year-old Argentinian said:

For Celtic they have much more important games than this coming up with the Champions League qualifiers, but this can help them prepare.

We have had some games against Celtic that I will always remember, and they are a big club, with big fans, and I would like to see them qualify this year – it is where they belong.

It is always a good atmosphere against Celtic. For the players at Barcelona who experienced the games in Europe against them, they will know what to expect from their fans. It is only a friendly, but I don’t think their fans know what a friendly is.

One of Celtic’s most famous games in recent memory came against Messi’s Barcelona side at Paradise as they came out 2-1 victors over the Catalan giants.

In order to make those nights at Paradise possible again, Brendan Rodgers side will have to see off Astana next week and with another two-legged tie in the play-off round.