Barcelona may be on its way to winning the Spanish league title, but the most important match of season looms on Tuesday in the second leg of the 2013 Champions League Round of 16.
The team has played poorly over the last few weeks with a pair of losses to Real Madrid, but the team's woes have been highlighted by ineffective play from Lionel Messi.
"I am not sad, although I am hurting," Messi told reporters about the poor performances. "I do not like to lose out on important things, and neither does the team."
He added, "We are aware we all need to give a little more. We are coming off important defeats against difficult opponents and we all need to give a bit more to change the situation... We know in the dressing room that the game against Milan will be key to make good on all we are talking about. We all want it - and although we know it will be difficult, it is possible. Just as they beat us at San Siro, we can do it here."
Regarding his poor performance against AC Milan in the first leg, "La Pulga" stated, "Italian teams are very well trained and they leave you with hardly any space... I hope Tuesday will be the day I can score my first goal against an Italian team from open play."
Messi has scored has scored five goals in the Champions League but has tallied 39 goals and nine assists in the Spanish league.
Milan visits Barcelona on Tuesday at the Camp Nou. The match starts at 2:45 PM EST.
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