Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has explained why Lionel Messi so often finds the back of the net from dangerous positions.

Messi has scored 534 goals in 616 appearances for Barcelona, and is currently in the middle of another excellent season.

Indeed, the Argentine has managed 27 in 33 appearances in all competitions this term, with his form key in helping Barcelona top La Liga, in addition to advancing in the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

Ter Stegen has revealed that Messi's placement of the ball makes it almost impossible for goalkeepers to react.

"He is very intelligent and knows exactly where to put the ball," Ter Stegen told Sport.

"Sometimes journalists say that goalkeepers can do a little more when they play against Messi, but I see it in every training: it does not matter where you place yourself, he's going to shoot to the other side.

"He's smart: many other players shoot just to shoot, or for taking the ball off, but he does not. He calculates it in a special way: sometimes he puts it so soft that it seems easy to stop it, but it is not."

Barcelona will travel to their Catalan rivals Espanyol in the league on Sunday afternoon.

Written by
Matt Law