Former Liverpool star Alvaro Arbeloa has shared how Lionel Messi made it ‘easier’ to mark him during their famous Champions League matches against Barcelona.
Messi, 36 has had mixed results against the Reds, winning two and losing two of his four competitive meetings, but he was knocked out of the Champions League on both occasions. The most memorable comeback was a 4-0 victory at Anfield in the semi-finals in 2019, while Liverpool also progressed on away goals thanks to a 2-1 win at the Camp Nou in the 2007 knockout stages.
Arbeloa joined the Reds from Deportivo La Coruna for £2.6million in January 2007 and was given a tough debut assignment marking Messi in Catalonia. Despite playing out of position at left-back, however, he managed to keep the forward quiet across both legs of the tie.
Looking back, Arbeloa revealed how Rafa Benitez set up his team to outsmart Barcelona. He also mentioned Messi, who was only 19 at the time, made it simpler to keep him under control.
“We played that day with me at left-back,” the 41-year-old told The Coaches’ Voice. “Two strikers up front, although [Dirk] Kuyt played a bit further back. [John Arne] Riise usually played at full-back, but that day [he] played ahead of me. That day, I had to mark Messi. I remember it perfectly. Rafa Benitez came to training one day in Liverpool and he told me that I was going to play left-back to mark Messi.
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Arbeloa, 41, made his Champions League debut in just about the toughest conditions one could expect.
