Lionel Messi: ‘Amazing’ Celtic fans deserve to see Hoops in last 16

Lionel Messi believes Celtic’s “amazing” fans deserve to see their side reach the Champions League knockout stage ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Benfica at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

The SPL outfit and Benfica are both on seven points in Group G, with the Portuguese side needing to match Celtic’s result against Spartak Moscow to progress to the last 16.

Neil Lennon’s men were 2-1 winners against Barcelona at Parkhead in their last Champions League home tie after losing by the same scoreline at Camp Nou.

“The Celtic fans deserve to be in Europe,” said three-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi. “They have been amazing in both games we have played against them.

“We knew what they were going to be like in Glasgow. But the way they were in Barcelona after they had just lost in the way they did was amazing.

“I have never seen anything like that before. We have not always been supportive of the way that Celtic play football.

“However, their fans deserve the knockout stages. I think the competition would be a quieter place without them.”

Open a bet365 account with £10 or more and you'll get a free bet of up to £200 on us. Click here for more information.

Like The Sport Review on Facebook:

Read more on: Barcelona, celtic, Champions League, lionel messi, spartak moscow.