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Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 3, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
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Lionel Messi concerned by Barcelona's defensive record

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi admits that his side must improve defensively ahead of their Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has admitted that his side need to improve defensively ahead of their Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.

The Spanish champions have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five league games, conceding eight goals in that time to contribute to a poor run of form which has seen them drop seven points from the last nine available.

Messi was rested from the start for the weekend draw with Athletic Bilbao - despite Barca having drawn with Girona and lost to Leganes earlier in the week - but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner insists that his side are not at panic stations just yet.

"There is no anxiety. This is just the beginning of the season," Messi told reporters.

"We only feel anger for the last two results. We did a good first half in Leganes and we lost. We create situations to win. We are aware that we have to be stronger in defence and not concede goals in all matches."

Barcelona still sit top of the La Liga table despite their recent form, and began their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven.

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Ernesto Valverde watches on during the Champions League group game between Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven on September 18, 2018
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


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