Barcelona Star Lionel Messi has said he misses facing rival Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga, MySportDab reports.

After helping Real Madrid win the Champions League last summer, Ronaldo left the club and joined Juventus.

Ronaldo has continued to save his best for Europe’s elite club competition, with a hat-trick against Atletico Madrid firing Juveinto the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

In La Liga, Madrid are lagging 12 points behind Liga leaders Barca and Messi suggested he misses the competition provided by Ronaldo.

“I miss Cristiano,” Messi told FM Club 947 in Argentina.

“Although it was a bit difficult to see him win trophies, he gave La Liga prestige.

“Juventus are a great candidate to win the Champions League since the arrival of Cristiano, and the match against Atleti must have given them a lot of confidence.”