Lionel Messi ‘in tunnel confrontation with Manchester City player’ after Barcelona defeat

Lionel Messi was involved in a confrontation with an unnamed Manchester City player following Barcelona’s Champions League defeat to the hosts at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, according to reports in Spain.

Marca, Mundo Deportivo and Spanish radio station Cadena Ser are amongst the outlets reporting that Messi reacted angrily to an unnamed Manchester City player saying something to him following City’s emphatic 3-1 victory. Messi was alleged to have called the Manchester City player "stupid" in response. The Argentine striker, who opened the scoring for the visitors before City’s comeback, is also alleged to have gone to the Manchester City dressing room in the company of a Barcelona delegate to confront the unnamed player, but was calmed down by his compatriot Sergio Aguero. The manner of City’s victory, which puts them within two points of Barcelona at the top of Group C, was hailed far and wide in the football community on Tuesday night. Messi himself put the visitors ahead with a counter attack on 21 minutes - his 90th Champions League goal - before Ilkay Gundogan equalised five minutes before half time. Kevin de Bruyne put City ahead six minutes after the break and a second from Gundogan 15 minutes later ensured a win and three points for Pep Guardiola against his old side. Catch up with the latest episode of Football Friday Live