Madrid: PSV Eindhoven coach Mark van Bommel says his players can fight it out for Barcelona star Lionel Messi's shirt if they win at the Nou Camp on Tuesday as this season's Champions League begins.

Barcelona host the Dutch league leaders and Van Bommel wants his players to stay professional as they face the player he described as the best in the world.

"If on Tuesday we get a good result, I don't care if they fight for Messi's shirt," Van Bommel told a news conference.

"That is part of being a professional, to always be concentrating. I know they will ask him for the shirt, but they shouldn't do it at halftime."

PSV winger Hirving Lozano may one day line up with the Argentine at Barcelona, having revealed the Catalan side were interested in signing him in the close season after he impressed for Mexico at the World Cup.

"Thanks to God I had a good tournament and many teams asked about me," said Lozano.

"My agents told me that Barca asked about me and it would be a dream to play here in the future, but now the important thing is focussing on PSV and enjoying it as much as possible." Barca have their own worries. A pattern has emerged in recent years that Barca are keen to break. Barcelona dominate domestically, while Real Madrid reign in Europe. Barca have won seven out of the last 10 league titles, Real only two. Real have claimed four of the last five Champions League crowns, Barcelona the other one.

Motivation is one thing but shifting weight onto the Champions League will demand practical adjustments too.

Ernesto Valverde was accused last season of over-exerting his players in the league, particularly when it was clear it was won.

Three days before the capitulation to Roma, the likes of Messi and Suarez were playing 90 minutes to beat 14th-placed Leganes.

Valverde has indicated he will adapt. Ahead of their Group B opener at home to PSV on Tuesday, Sergio Busquets and Philippe Coutinho started as substitutes in Saturday's win over Real Sociedad, even if both were needed before the end.

Messi, who turned 31 in June, may also need to be preserved if he is to add a fifth Champions League success to his collection. Now captain, he appears hungrier than ever.

"It's time to win the Champions League," Messi told Catalunya Radio earlier this month. "We've been knocked out in the quarter finals three seasons in a row and maybe the last one was the worst of all because of the result and how the match was played.

"I think we have to aim for that, as a club, as a team and as a collective. We have a spectacular squad and we can do it."

Agencies