Alba says Barcelona will play to win in Turin | OneFootball

Jordi Alba says Barcelona won’t play for a draw when they travel to face Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The match is a must-win for Juve if they’re to retain any hope of advancing to the knockout stages, whereas for Barça, a draw will do.

However, Alba says he and his team-mates will be going all out for the win and the left-back is even targeting getting his name on the scoresheet.

“We are Barcelona, we don’t settle for draws. We’ll go to Turin to get the win,” the 28-year-old told Italian outlet Tuttosport.

“I’d like to score one past [Gianluigi] Buffon, like in the Euro 2012 final, and swap shirts with him to add it to my collection.

“I already have [Paulo] Dybala’s one from last year’s match. Gigi is the best keeper in the history of football, and I was very sorry to see him crying.

“It’s a real shame that he and Italy won’t participate in the World Cup.”

Lionel Messi will make his 602nd appearance for the Blaugrana at Juventus Stadium and Alba is in no doubt about the Argentine wizard’s legendary status in the game.

“Leo is a phenomenon on the pitch and a normal guy off the pitch,” he said.

“There will be no one like Messi, ever. I feel very lucky to play alongside him.”

And while the loss of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer was generally seen as a bad thing for Barcelona, Alba says it has given his game a new lease of life.

“Without Neymar we play differently, we do not have a wide left winger anymore, so that side is all mine,” he said.

“I’m a protagonist again.”