Lionel Messi: Barcelona had to lose at some point

Messi: Barcelona had to lose at some point

20/01/2013 10:40:00 AM

The in-form striker was quick to play down the significance of his side's shock defeat by Real Sociedad, while Pedro attributed the loss to Gerard Pique's sending-off

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has said the shock 3-2 loss to Real Sociedad on Saturday was not entirely unexpected, but added that the side must now rebound with a win in the Cope del Rey.

Despite bagging a goal in his 10th straight league game in consecutive seasons, Philippe Montanier's men staged an incredible comeback to stun Messi and the Blaugrana.

But the newly-crowned Balon d'Or winner told reporters: "Losing a game had to come at some point.

"We have to pick ourselves up immediately because of the cup match coming up.

Meanwhile Pedro, who scored Barca's other goal, was quick to blame the defeat on the referee's decision to produce a second yellow-card for Gerard Pique.

"Pique’s red card conditioned the match, because it was a [tackle] that wasn't dangerous. On Thursday, we simply cannot fail," he said.

The Camp Nou outfit travel to Malaga in midweek for their Copa del Rey quarter-final.