Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Lionel Messi only aiming for Barcelona win, not La Liga record vs. Real Madrid

BARCELONA -- Lionel Messi says the important thing is that Barcelona win Saturday's La Liga clasico at Real Madrid, not that he becomes La Liga's all-time record scorer during the game at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

After seven goals in his first eight league games this season, Messi has moved to 250 career La Liga goals, and is now just one away from equalling the record held for 60 years by former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra.

Speaking after Barca's 3-1 Champions League win over Ajax on Tuesday night, in which he had scored his second European goal of the campaign, the Argentine told reporters that the main thing on his mind now was not the record but winning Saturday's game at Madrid.

"We will go there to do the best possible and to win," Messi said. "Nothing will be decided, and there will still be a lot of Liga left, but we will go to try and win and to play well. Zarra's record is the least important thing, what matters is to play well and win there."

Messi, who moved to 250 with a goal during last Saturday's 3-0 La Liga win at home to Eibar, also said he was looking forward to finally linking up with Luis Suarez on the pitch, as the summer signing from Liverpool will finally be able to make his debut this weekend, with the Uruguay striker's ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the summer's World Cup now ending.

"We are all really looking forward to the arrival of Luis," he said. "He will bring a lot of strength to the team. He is a forward who scores a lot of goals. I am happy as he has spent a lot of time without getting onto the pitch."

Barcelona defender Marc Bartra said spots in the starting XI to face Real Madrid are up for grabs for any player who works hard enough to grab them.

"It's evident to us that you have to win a place in the team in every game, every training session, so the boss can see that you're doing well," Bartra said.

"We have to train hard to get any opportunities we can and, with the extra motivation of who will play the clasico, of course it was important to produce a good game tonight."

Bartra, who has been in and out of the team since the arrival of Jeremy Mathieu last summer, experienced both sides of Spain's biggest fixture last season, scoring Barcelona's only goal in their 2-1 Copa del Rey final loss to Real Madrid, then later being beaten by Gareth Bale for the winner.

The defender's confidence hasn't been shaken however, and he insists he's ready should duty call against Madrid this Saturday.

"I feel prepared. I'm really hungry. If I get my chance then perfect, if not, I'll help the team the best I can."

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