Lionel Messi and Alvaro Verbal Altercation Revealed by Espanyol Defender

Espanyol's Alvaro has revealed Lionel Messi's cutting response to being called "small" by the centre-back during Wednesday's Copa del Rey last-16 clash with Barcelona.

Per Marca, Alvaro and Messi were chipping at each other throughout Barcelona's 2-0 win, which saw the Camp Nou giants prevail 6-1 on aggregate. Alvaro aimed his taunt about Messi's size, to which the Ballon d'Or holder replied: "And you're really bad."

The 26-year-old defender elaborated on the altercation, per FourFourTwo:

"

Leo was criticising me for some things, and I some others. I asked him if he thinks I will hurt him, and he said yes. He told me that I was bad, and I told him he was short. But both accepted it, laughed, and left it at that. There's no need to make a big deal, what happens on the pitch stays there, and that's it. The best thing about these derbies is the healthy rivalry we have.

"

As can be seen below, the exchange did indeed seem to be good-natured:

The clash at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat was much less hot-tempered than the first leg at the Camp Nou.

On that occasion, two Espanyol players were sent off and Luis Suarez prompted a scuffle in the tunnel, per Sport's Samuel Marsden:

The Uruguayan was consequently handed a two-match ban for his antics and was thus absent for Wednesday's second leg, per Sky Sports.

It is little surprise Alvaro resorted to any possible tactic in an attempt to throw Messi of his game, with the Argentina captain having received his fifth Ballon d'Or just a few days before the game.

As noted by Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, it's "impossible" to stop Messi via traditional ways:

However, the 28-year-old did not get on the scoresheet on Wednesday, with Munir El Haddadi scoring both goals for Luis Enrique's men as they advanced to the last eight.

The defending champions will find out their opponents for the quarter-finals on Friday when the draw is made.