GUILLEM BALAGUE has claimed Lionel Messi is partly responsible for Luis Suarez’s goal drought.The Uruguay international has scored an impressive 124 goals in 159 games for Barcelona in all competitions since joining from Liverpool in 2014.
“Barcelona have been very impressive defensively,” Balague told Sky Sports.
“Everybody is working very hard without the ball and they have only shipped three goals so far.
But this season Suarez has struggled in front of goal, scoring just three goals in his opening 12 games of the season.
In contrast, Messi has been unbelievable in front of goal with 16 goals in his opening 15 games.
And La Liga expert Balague believes he knows why Suarez has not been at the same level of his South American counterpart.
“They are playing without wingers, which tightens everything up in the central areas.
“With little space to work, their play becomes more industrial and Luis Suarez suffers.
“Now that Lionel Messi is working more through the middle, Suarez has to move wider. That's not his natural habitat.”
Luis Suarez has been forced much wider to accommodate for Lionel Messi, according to Guillem Balague
“Barcelona have been very impressive defensively,” Balague told Sky Sports.
“Everybody is working very hard without the ball and they have only shipped three goals so far.
But this season Suarez has struggled in front of goal, scoring just three goals in his opening 12 games of the season.
In contrast, Messi has been unbelievable in front of goal with 16 goals in his opening 15 games.
And La Liga expert Balague believes he knows why Suarez has not been at the same level of his South American counterpart.
“They are playing without wingers, which tightens everything up in the central areas.
“With little space to work, their play becomes more industrial and Luis Suarez suffers.
“Now that Lionel Messi is working more through the middle, Suarez has to move wider. That's not his natural habitat.”
