Lionel Messi expects 'difficult but beautiful challenge' against Manchester City

Barcelona star Lionel Messi believes that he and his teammates will face a "beautiful challenge" when they take on Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League next week.

Manuel Pellegrini's side suffered defeat at the hands of the Spanish giants in this round last season, but Messi believes that the clash will be decided by "details".

"We face City just as we did last year and it's a team that has a lot of great players," Messi told Mundo Leo. "It's going to be a really difficult tie. The aim for them is to go through because it has been a while since they last progressed to the quarter-finals.

"We expect a level tie and it will be decided by details. It's going to be a beautiful challenge especially because City have reinforced their team a lot."

Barcelona have lost just once in 13 league fixtures.