Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar (right) and Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves joke during a training session at the Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar (right) and Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves joke during a training session at the Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Argentinian defender Javier Mascherano (third left) plays with Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves (third right) during a training session at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Argentinian defender Javier Mascherano (third left) plays with Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves (third right) during a training session at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (left) and Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (right) arrive for a training session at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (left) and Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (right) arrive for a training session at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s players attend a training session. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barcelona’s players attend a training session. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves (centre) takes part in a training session with teammates at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves (centre) takes part in a training session with teammates at the FC Barcelona Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on April 12, 2016, on the eve of their Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona. / AFP / LLUIS GENE
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi attends a training session. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi attends a training session. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barcelona players Gerard Pique, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi during the team’s training session held at Joan Gamper sports city in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, 12 April 2016. FC Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in an UEFA Champions League second leg quarter final football match the upcoming 13 April. EPA/ANDREU DALMAU
Barcelona players Gerard Pique, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi during the team’s training session held at Joan Gamper sports city in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, 12 April 2016. FC Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in an UEFA Champions League second leg quarter final football match the upcoming 13 April. EPA/ANDREU DALMAU
Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta attend a training session. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta attend a training session. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Football

Leo Messi and Barcelona teammates prepare for Atletico Madrid clash – in pictures

Jake Badger

April 12, 2016

  • English
  • Arabic

Five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi insists Barcelona’s belief hasn’t been affected by a poor run of form as they travel to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday holding a precarious 2-1 first-leg lead in their Champions League quarter-final.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport

The bio

Favourite food: Japanese

Favourite car: Lamborghini

Favourite hobby: Football

Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough

Favourite country: UAE

UAE v IRELAND

All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi

1st ODI, Friday, January 8

2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10

3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12

4th ODI, Thursday, January 14

ARGYLLE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Matthew%20Vaughn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Bryce%20Dallas%20Howard%2C%20Sam%20Rockwell%2C%20John%20Cena%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BarcelonaNeymarAtletico MadridChampions League

Most popular today

1

After decades of acclaim, Brad Pitt finally has his blockbuster – and Abu Dhabi helped make it happen

2

Dubai's new first-time home buyer scheme to benefit existing residents amid foreign investor surge

3

Iker Casillas on Cristiano Ronaldo, the rise of Middle East football and the future of sport

4

Dubai launches scheme to help first-time investors buy properties valued up to Dh5m

5

The meaning behind the UAE's new dirham banknotes

6

Sharjah road closures in place for two months due to Etihad Rail work

7

Nothing Phone (3): UAE release date, price and everything else you need to know

8

As Dubai cracks down on illegal partitions and subletting, here's what you should know

9

What can be done to solve UAE traffic congestion?

10

Dave Chappelle roasts Trump, Israel-Iran conflict and DJ Khaled's silence