Pedal evoke memories of Lionel Messi like he helped Barcelona Book them in the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Galatasaraybut he said compare with Argentina the front is “crazy.”
A header from the Brazilian defender Morocco gave Galatasaray the lead in Istanbul on Thursday before a superb solo effort from Pedri equalized Barca before half-time.
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The Spain international received a card from Ferran Torres right inside the box and drowned inside two players, causing them to sit on the floor in the process, before beating the loan Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
“No way!” Pedri fired back saying his target had been compared to Messi, who left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain last summer. “Messi has scored much better goals. It’s crazy to compare me to Messi.
“However, I don’t really remember the goal, so I’ll have to watch it again. I remember Ferran gave me the ball, I’m afraid. [inside] because I saw a foot come and go, I thought, until I shot. Everything just came to me on the pitch. I’m lucky I don’t have to really think. “
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez has previously been criticized for comparing Pedri to another former Barcelona great, Andres Iniestaso he stayed away from making any further comparisons but was once again impressed by the young midfielder.
“The goal is great,” Xavi said at a press conference. “It’s really beautiful, pausing in construction… Pedri can do that and more – and he’s only 19. What a privilege. I can’t commend him. that too.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the first goal of the second half with his seventh goal for his new club. Ex-Arsenal the striker returned home Frenkie de Jong overcome as Barca extend their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 11 games before Sunday Clasico against Real Madrid (4 p.m. ET; stream LIVE on ESPN+).
“We played really well and showed a lot of bravery,” added Xavi. “There is a lot of merit from the back that comes from the back.
“We knew how and when to attack, we played patiently and came from the back on a difficult pitch. Galatasaray defended well, had a coach, but we did much better than the game. turn away. [which was goalless]. It was a well deserved win and maybe more, we played better in both games.
“I think Clasico come at a good time for us. But I have seen everything in football and I know that Sunday will be a different story. “
Victory, Barca’s sixth in their last seven, has been mitigated by injury Gerard Pique and Sergino DestBoth were brought on in the second half.
Xavi said Pique has been playing with the problem for a month, leading to doubts about his availability against Madrid this weekend, while Sources tell ESPN Dest has a hamstring strain.
The USA The international will undergo further tests on Friday but he is unlikely to appear at the Santiago Bernabeu and could miss the World Cup qualifiers with Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica at the end of this month.
