Ernesto Valverde Talks Lionel Messi, Camp Nou Crowd Before Barcelona vs. Roma

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde branded Lionel Messi "unique in the history of football" ahead of the Blaugrana's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Roma at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. 

He also called on the Barca fans to get behind the team for the crucial clash and said his side would need to be on top form to down the Italians, per the Press Association (via the Mirror):

"Messi is unique in the world. Unique in the history of football.

"I really hope the Camp Nou fans turn out in huge numbers to back us against Roma and roar us on like they did against Chelsea [in the last round]. Being favourites doesn't mean anything as far as I'm concerned. It's not the reality of the game. Everything's up for grabs. We'll have to play extraordinarily to beat them."

Messi, 30, started on the bench in Barca's La Liga clash with Sevilla on Saturday having been forced to sit out both of Argentina's games during the international break due to injury.

However, he was sent on by Valverde with half an hour to go at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and netted a late equaliser as Barca came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and keep their unbeaten La Liga record intact for the 2017-18 season.

It is likely he will be back in the starting XI for Roma's visit to the Camp Nou on Wednesday, a factor which makes Barcelona heavy favourites to earn a potentially crucial advantage from the first leg.

The Spanish giants can't afford anything other than a win from their home leg as the fixture at Roma's Stadio Olimpico is sure to be tough.

The Giallorossi have not conceded at home in the Champions League this season. 

Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco is likely to set his side up to frustrate Barca on Wednesday at the Camp Nou in an attempt to stay in the tie for the home leg.

However, it will be a huge challenge for Roma to keep Barcelona from scoring on their home patch, especially with Messi in such fine form.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has netted at least once in each of his last seven appearances for Barca, and it would be no surprise if he extended that run to eight matches on Wednesday evening.