Many were anticipating a showdown between Messi and Smalling in the Champions League encounter between Man United and Barcelona. While the Argentine was expected to rip the defender apart, it was the Englishman who left his mark on Leo -- literally.
The Red Devils man was involved in a nasty coming together with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner early on in the game. In the first half, the Englishman caught Leo with his elbow in an attempt to win an aerial challenge which left the Blaugrana icon on the floor.
Play was halted and the 31-year-old left the pitch for treatment after taking an elbow to the nose and left eyelid. Reports even claim that Messi, who was left in blood after this challenge, could only breathe from his mouth and could not see properly.
Smalling, however, insists that there was no bad intention on his part. Speaking to BBC Sport, the 29-year-old stated that the nasty incident was nothing more than an accident and that Messi himself brushed it aside as a mere collision when the two spoke after the final whistle.
“We spoke afterward. We had a brief chat and shook hands.
“He knew it was an accident.”
“I didn't realize at the time that I'd actually caught him like that.
“[Luis] Suarez [came up to me] after the game as well. We had a good tussle and he just shook my hand afterward and said 'good luck'.
“It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there's respect after the game because, ultimately, you are just trying to do your best.”
Solskjaer's men put in a rallied performance but ended up on the losing side nonetheless. An own goal from Luke Shaw saw the Catalan giant earn their first win at Old Trafford.
Despite this, Smalling was optimistic of his team's odds despite the fact that they will be traveling to Camp Nou in the second leg. After bouncing back from a home defeat to eliminate PSG, the Man United centre-back is confident he and his team-mates can pull off another shock.
He added: “We know it can be done. If we can carry on from the second-half performance when we were really on the front foot, brought intensity to the game and caused them a few problems, that's what we need to go there and do."
