Antonio Conte Calls Messi "The Best Player" And Cries Foul After The CL Loss Against FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona is the final team to make it to the Champions League Top 8 after the 3-0 victory over Chelsea. Messi and Dembele score while players of Chelsea tasted defeat.

The aggregate of the two leg played between Barca and the EPL Blues is 4-1. The second leg was initially dominated by the Chelsea side but Messi gave Barcelona the lead by scoring at 3 minutes into the game.

Chelsea tried to score an equalizer but did not see any fruit as openings were made but not utilized. At 20th minute, Messi went on to assist Dembele for the second goal of the night for the Blaugrana. Willian kept on punching the Barca defense but couldn't break through.

Marcos Alonso hit the free kick to the post missing out on a big opening. When Gerard Pique brought down Olivier Giroud in the second half, Chelsea saw a ray of hope but the challenge was denied.

The Blues saw 11 chances as compared to Barca with 6. But Messi swept the game off the English club when he scored the third goal at 63rd minute. Chelsea went out fighting and their manager had nothing but praises for their rivals.

"We are talking about the best player in the world," said Conte. "He scores 60 goals every season- he is super top player. Barcelona were very clinical."

Conte also appreciated the efforts of his own players stating, "I think we created many chances but we didn't take them.

"We didn't deserve to lose 3-0," said Conte. "We were a bit unlucky.

"I must be very proud about my players- they gave everything and we have to continue in this way, with this will to fight and desire to fight together."

FC Barcelona are now into Champions League quarter-finals along with Bayern Munich, Sevilla, Manchester City, Liverpool, AS Roma, Real Madrid and Juventus. The quarter-finals draw is highly anticipated by the fans across the football universe.

Champions League Round of 8: Barcelona vs Juventus Updates

After a stunning comeback three weeks ago against PSG, Barcelona are all set to take on Juventus on Tuesday night in the Round of Eight. The match will be hosted at the home of the Serie A club Juventus.

The five time champions league winners were facing defeat with a 4-0 in the first round against PSG. Barcelona took the world by surprise when the match was overturned with six goals being scored in the dying minutes of the match. They moved on to the next round with a 6-1 victory and are now set to face the Italian giants.

Both the teams are coming into today's game with a loss in their previous match. La Liga team FC Barcelona lost 0-2 against their rivals Malaga, while Juventus FC faced a 2-3 defeat against Napoli. Nevertheless, hopes are high on what would look like a blood bath  between the two teams. The last time they went against each other at the finale of the champions league, the results were in favor of Barcelona with 3-1.

Tonight is not all good news for Barcelona side as Busquets, Alex Vidal and Rafinha will be missing from the squad and not to say the questionable form of MSN. As for Juventus, Marko Pjaca is the only injured squad member but Mario Manduzkic will be fit to play.

Things to look forward to:-

• Dani Alves will be playing against his former team FC Barcelona.
• The clash between two Argentine forwards Messi and Dybala. 
• Payback for the loss at Champions League 2015 Finals.

The Champions League Quarter Finals will be live telecasted on Ten Sports for all Indian viewers at 12:15am tonight.

“I wouldn’t like to draw Barcelona. It would be too weird for me. If I really have to face them, I’d prefer it to be in the Champions League Final.”

-         Alves told beIN Sports

"Football is so changeable, and a team that everyone thought was knocked out went through to the quarters. They will be full of confidence.”

-          Higuain told UEFA's official website.

"I don't think revenge really exists in football. There are opportunities but not revenge because you cannot retrieve what you lost. 

"Juventus have changed a few players since then, and we have also, so we are only focused on playing a good game and earning a good result here. We will not be thinking of the match in Berlin."

-         Mascherano said at Monday's pre-match news conference.

"People have to know that I am not Messi. I am Dybala and I want to only be Dybala, although I understand that there are comparisons. There's only one Messi, as there was only one Maradona. You can't replace players like them and it's a huge burden that people have expectations about me.”

-         Dybala said on Monday.