<img title="Lionel Messi" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/apr/30Messi.jpg" alt="Lionel Messi" /> Lionel Messi
It's hard to imagine Lionel Messi being hated in any part of the world, worse still, in the very city that has seen him achieve his superstar status in world football. But there is a large group of football fans in Barcelona, who despise the Argentine champion for the very reason he is hailed across the rest of the world.
The fans of Espanyol, another La Liga club based here in Barcelona, cannot stand even the mention of Messi in a general conversation - let alone he being praised. It's no wonder then that the Espanyol fans were an animated lot on the eve of their La Liga clash with the "eternal enemy" at the RCD Espanyol Stadium here.
"We hate Messi, there's no doubt about that. We hate him even more than people all over the globe love him," Daniel Perez, member of the Federacio Catalunya de Penyes (Federation of Catalunyan fans clubs), and a die-hard Espanyol fan told mid-day here on Saturday hours before Catalunya's biggest football fixture - Espanyol versus Barcelona.
Interestingly, Neymar returns for Barcelona after his suspension and along with Luis Suarez, it's a power-packed MSN reunion, but Messi remains the sole topic of discussion among Espanyol fans.
<img title="Javi Arabia (left) and Daniel Perez, members of the Federation of Catalunya fan clubs, pose at the official Espanyol fan statue at the RCD Espanyol Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. Pic/Ashwin Ferro" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/apr/30espanyol.jpg" alt="Javi Arabia (left) and Daniel Perez, members of the Federation of Catalunya fan clubs, pose at the official Espanyol fan statue at the RCD Espanyol Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. Pic/Ashwin Ferro " /> Javi Arabia (left) and Daniel Perez, members of the Federation of Catalunya fan clubs, pose at the official Espanyol fan statue at the RCD Espanyol Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. Pic/Ashwin Ferro&nbsp;
'Have to stop Messi tonight' "We don't hate Neymar and Luis Suarez as much as we dislike Messi. We have to stop Messi to get a good result tonight," says Javi Arabia another Federacio Catalunya de Penyes member and Espanyol worshipper.
Messi has been brilliant this season achieving 500 goals for his club and en route being both scorer and provider as Barca inflicted two 4-1 wins over their city-rivals, once in the Copa del Rey and once in La Liga. His role becomes even more critical now that Barcelona are out of the reckoning in the Champions League and are fully focussed on the La Liga battle with arch-rivals Real Madrid, whom they beat in the Clasico recently.
With 78 points, Barcelona are currently placed second in the table. Real Madrid lead the roost with 81 points from 34 games. Meanwhile, Espanyol are currently in ninth spot and that's what makes them perfect party-poopers.
A monster club: Perez Daniel puts the rivalry in perspective. "There's only 11 years of history that separates us from Barcelona, as they were established in 1899, while we were formed in 1900. But they are a big, monster club, with all the money and big stars and always winning everything.
Such is FCB's popularity that in my school, growing up, my brother and me were the only two Espanyol fans, while the rest of the school hailed FCB. Even today, fan-wise, they will have millions world over, while we are maybe half of that.
"But at home, we are the resistance band to FCB in Barcelona. We are the obstacle, they must overcome if they want to win the La Liga, and we take pride in being their city rivals."

Fans of Espanyol, the other Barcelona-based La Liga club, can't even stand the mention of football great despite him being hailed all over the world

La Liga: Espanyol fans hate Lionel Messi! Here's why...

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Fans of Espanyol, the other Barcelona-based La Liga club, can't even stand the mention of football great despite him being hailed all over the world

La Liga: Espanyol fans hate Lionel Messi! Here's why...

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La Liga: Espanyol fans hate Lionel Messi! Here's why...

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