DAVID G. MEDINA
“We’re not afraid of Messi or any of Atlético’s opponents.” Thibaut Courtois’ phrase expresses perfectly the mood that exists prior to the visit to Barcelona, home of the world’s best player at the moment, Leo Messi. Simeone’s team has grown in confidence and the players aren’t afraid of facing the unstoppable Argentinian striker. The Belgian goalie knows from experience what it means to face the Argentinian, and for all the wrong reasons.
Their previous encounters last season proved a real nightmare. Messi scored a hat-trick against Courtois in their first meeting, part of the 5-0 defeat in the Camp Nou. He also tipped the balance in the Calderón by scoring the definitive 1-2. That’s four goals in two games and proof that we are talking about a truly unstoppable player.
Months later, however, the situation has changed drastically. Atlético is not the broken spirited team that fell to pieces when it last visited Barcelona. Atléti is now second in the league table and is perhaps the only team that can keep up with that of Tito Vilanova.
Filipe Luis is also convinced of Atlético’s chances. “Messi doesn’t make us tremble, he spurs us on. A team rises up in matches like this. I feel better, I’m not so relaxed, I’m more focused and this might help us to have a great game,” the Brazilian defender said.
