Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi: I'm Sure Cesc Fabregas Will Leave Arsenal For Barcelona

Barcelona ace Messi certain Fabregas will join them from Arsenal...

By Salvatore Landolina

Lionel Messi believes Arsenal ace Cesc Fabregas will join Barcelona - adding weight to Goal.com Spain's exclusive which claims the Spanish international will leave the Emirates for Camp Nou.

And Messi feels the inevitable will happen, suggesting the lure of trophies and Blaugrana excellence will be too much for Fabregas to resist.

"I think that in the end Cesc will do what he feels like doing, the same with Barcelona," Messi told Sport.es.

"I am certain he wants to come to Barcelona because he has realised this in the only club where he can win."

Barcelona will welcome Fabregas and Arsenal to the Camp Nou on March 8 for the second leg of the Champions League last 16, with the Gunners holding a 2-1 first leg lead.

Messi: It was a must-win game

A relieved Lionel Messi is pleased to see Barcelona stretch their lead at the top of the La Liga with a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

The Argentinean was again the hero for the Catalan giants as he came up with the decisive winner 12 minutes from time to seal three crucial points for his side, who led the table by just two points ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Levante 2-0 on Saturday.

Speaking after the match, Messi spoke of his delight and urged his team to focus on every game till they lay their hands on the title.

"We could not afford another blow as Madrid were close," the mercurial forward was quoted as saying by AS. "We won an important game. It is a short season now and every game is vital."

The 23-year-old also gave credit to Bilbao for putting up a good fight at the Nou Camp.

"They always complicate things," he said. "They are a great team, very organised when pressuring and always play well. These are three very important points."

The win once again puts Barcelona five points clear at the top of the table as they head into next weekend's trip to Mallorca while Madrid face a daunting trip to Deportivo.

Pepsi

Messi chating with some random girl.

I love him so much

it's such a pleasure to watch you play so amazingly

Messi

Love him to no ends, my fav player on this planet He is so cute, thanks for all the pics Aga