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'Absolutely no chance' | Graham Hunter ruling out Barca success in Europe

Spanish football writer Graham Hunter says he is far from confident that Barcelona can go any fur...



Spanish football writer Graham Hunter says he is far from confident that Barcelona can go any further in this season's Champions League.

The Catalans take on Bayern Munich, and an in-form Robert Lewandowski, in the quarter-finals on Friday night, with questions over whether they can produce enough to advance.

Hunter told us on OTB AM that he feels Lionel Messi will be keen to achieve more in Europe with Barca, but doesn't think this is their year.

"No chance. Absolutely no chance. A season where they haven't won anything, except for Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or.

"Watching Lyon dispense with Juventus... and thinking about Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League victories - four with Real Madrid, one with United, a defeated finalist, played in all of them.

"You look at Messi... how many times he's talked passionately about wanting to conquer Europe. He's talking as captain of Barcelona because it's been five years since they won the Champions League.

"You think about his four medals, he only played in three finals. In the three finals he was devastating - a goal in Wembley, a goal in Rome, an assist in Berlin.

"He's one of a handful of players that has won two Trebles, but he's short of Champions League final appearances, never mind victories."

Hunter added that he would be extremely surprised if the La Liga runners-up could do enough to beat a Bayern team that are chasing a treble.

"I've tipped Man City to win this [Champions League outright]. I would understand if people told me out and out Bayern Munich are favourites because of their squad, because of their athletic prowess, physicality, I think that gives them certainly the edge over Barcelona.

"If Barcelona were to go through, even in these odd circumstances in a one-off match against Bayern Munich, it would be one of the big surprises of my working life.

"Quique Setién, I don't have any doubts, is a coach with a clear view of football and when it comes off it's very attractive - but, boy oh boy, he's lost in handling this squad.

"Didn't make substitutes early off, didn't make sufficient substitutes, the team is running out of gas, you cast ahead... even though Busquets will come back [and] Vidal will come back... the difference in athleticism and stamina... I fail to see how Bayern can tie their laces together and fall over in this tie."

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Barcelona La Liga Lionel Messi