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Filipe Luis: 'Lionel Messi protected by league and media'

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis accuses La Liga and the media of giving preferential treatment to Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis has claimed that Barcelona's Lionel Messi is afforded special treatment by the authorities and the media.

Luis was shown a straight red card in the January meeting between the two sides for a knee-high challenge on Messi.

The former Chelsea left-back admitted that the referee made the correct decision in sending him off, but believes that the fact that it was on Messi means that more was made of the tackle.

"I admit it was a red card, the referee wasn't wrong. I sought the ball but very aggressively, with a high foot, and Leo was there. It was a fair red, I left the pitch, served a ban and that's it," Luis told TV Esporte Interativo.

"It's a phase of play which happens in every game, but it happened on Messi. He's protected by the Press and by the League. I believe they don't want one of their best players of all time to be injured and not play. Still, I slept easily because I didn't want to hurt him at any time.

"I approach every game with the same intensity and try not to be so aggressive in games like these. Many players enter the pitch just to change shirts, but I don't. If you give Messi a metre, he'll snatch the ball and leave you behind. My objective is to be intense so he can't do anything."

Barcelona currently sit eight points clear of Atletico at the top of the La Liga table.

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Lionel Messi scores during the La Liga game between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona on March 3, 2016
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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