Lionel Messi has fond memories of playing against Manchester United.The Argentinian scored against the Red Devils in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, proving to be a real pain for the Premier League club.He will attempt to improve upon his record when Barcelona take on Man United in the quarter-final of the Champions League.And few would bet against him doing so.Messi has been incredible this season, scoring 43 goals in all competitions as Barcelona chase the treble.

Man United will do well to stop him from scoring an away goal when they host the Blaugrana on Wednesday evening.

It was back in 2009 when the 31-year-old scored his first goal against the Red Devils, climbing high to score a header past Edwin van der Sar in the final in Rome.

Messi: Goal v Man United one of my favourites

It was a glorious goal - a perfectly-placed header from Xavi’s cross - that gave Pep Guardiola’s side a 2-0 lead. 

And Messi still reflects fondly on the goal, insisting it remains one of his favourites.

“It was hard to imagine that I was going to score with my head with [Rio] Ferdinand standing near me, but I didn’t really have a marker - the ball came into the centre and I was there to meet it,” Messi said, per FourFourTwo.

“In the moments that the ball was in the air from Xavi’s cross, I pictured scoring this goal and I thank God it happened.

“It was such an important goal in every sense: for the team, for the way the final was turning in our favour and for me, too. It’s still one of my favourite goals.

“After missing the 2006 final through injury, it was very special for me just to play in this game, let alone score in it.

“It completed a great season when we won everything.”

You can watch the goal with Martin Tyler's commentary HERE (4:10).

"It’s 2-0. It’s Messi. He’s scored against an English club now!," Tyler says.

Two years later and Messi heaped yet more misery on Man United.

They have avoided the five-time Ballon d’Or winner ever since.

But now, it’s time to see if they have learned their lesson.