If there is one player who can change tonight’s El Classico in a matter of seconds, it has to be Lionel Messi.
For tonight’s El Classico, Madrid have already identified him as the key threat and Raphael Varane has called in on his team-mates to stop the magician, ie Messi!
“He is a special player and you can’t defend him like any other player,” Varane said, courtesy of LaLiga.
“He has his characteristics and he demands great focus from you and you have to defend him together with your team-mates.
“It’s a collective effort… we have to leave him as little space as possible.”
“I don’t see much of a difference,” he said. “They always have the same identity and playing style out on the pitch and the same philosophy, and the important players are the same.
“We know that it’s always difficult to play against them but at the same time we know what to expect.”
“I believe that in these kinds of games you always want to come into them with confidence,” the 26-year-old said.
“But it’s special, no doubt. When both teams take to the field they leave their doubts aside, it’s a battle. It doesn’t really matter how the last few games have been.
“When you step out onto the field, everything’s different.”
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