Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo will be hoping for a miracle to record his first-ever win against Lionel Messi when he files out with Leganes against Barcelona tonight in a Copa del Rey quarter-final game at the Nou Camp, Completesports.com reports.
Omeruo has lost in all his previous four outings against Messi, both at club and international level, with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner scoring four goals in those outings.
The Nigeria international lost 1-2 and 3-1 in two LaLiga games with Leganes against a Messi-led Barcelona last year and had been on the losing side with Nigeria against the Argentine at the 2014 (2-3) and 2018 (1-2) World Cup group games.
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Messi has emerged victorious in all the games he has played against Nigeria at all international levels while only a few Nigerian players have recorded wins against the Barcelona talisman at club level.
Former Eagles skipper, John Mikel Obi ‘miraculously’ won with Chelsea against Messi’s Barcelona in the 2012/13 Champions League semi-final duels enroute to Chelsea’s European triumph that season.
And only recently, Eagles midfielder, Ramon Azeez scored in Granada’s shock 2-0 win against Messi’s Barcelona in a LaLiga game late last year.
Mikel on the other hand had lost against Messi at every international meet since their first encounter at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005.
However, Omeruo’s compatriot at Leganes, Chidozie Awaziem would be gunning for his first outing against the Argentine superstar in tonight’s tie and coach Javier Aguirre will hope the Nigerian stars can re-enact the form that helped Leganes held Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in a LaLiga game last weekend.
By Sulaiman Alao
