LONDON • Barcelona's team sheet at Celta Vigo over the weekend spoke volumes about how serious they are approaching the reverse fixture of their Champions League semi-final with Liverpool today.
Despite holding a commanding 3-0 lead, Ernesto Valverde opted to rest all 11 players who started in the Nou Camp victory.
He has every reason to be cautious, with last season's quarter-final collapse at Roma - only the second time in Champions League history a club have come back in the second leg after trailing by three goals - "a scar" burned into the club's psyche.
The Barcelona coach also knows a European night under the floodlights at Anfield is one of football's most intimidating prospects, with Liverpool having the capacity and ability to conjure up a similar fightback like the Italian side.
That was why Valverde was so disappointed to lose Ousmane Dembele with a hamstring tear against Celta.
While the France forward was not expected to start on Merseyside, the "important player" would have been a perfect option off the bench with his pace and ability to drive at tiring defenders, especially as his team are expected to play on the counter.
According to Spanish daily AS, the injury is season-ending and Valverde admitted ahead of their trip to Anfield that "it is a major blow with the big games we have coming up".
However, Valverde still has an almost full squad to choose from and, unlike Liverpool, who are locked in a tussle for the Premier League title with Manchester City, Barcelona have had the luxury to wrap players in cotton wool in domestic competition after lifting the LaLiga crown on April 27.
Â
The Spaniard said: "We have the advantage of being champions already. Of course, we will try to use it."
Talismanic captain Lionel Messi is also under no illusions his team "are going to a very difficult stadium" even though his team will be fresher than the Reds.
However, he has pledged to bring that "beautiful cup back to Nou Camp" as he aims to guide the Catalans to their first Champions League final since 2015.
The Argentina forward, who is gunning for his fifth Champions League trophy, has 24 goals in 32 matches against English clubs - more than any other player.
Messi said: "It is a very good result, but (Liverpool have) a lot of history, and that put you under a lot of pressure. We know it's not over."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Man City end Newport's Cup dream to reach quarterfinals. City dominated possession with Sane grazing the bar and Mahrez going close but Newport were always a threat.
Manchester City end Newport's FA Cup dream as Brighton and
global.espn.com/football/english-fa-cup/story/3776583/manchester-city-end-newports-fa-cup-dream-as-brighton-and-millwall-advance
Newport County 1-4 Man City: Foden leads City through (2:19) Phil Foden and Manchester City put an end to Newport County's FA Cup run, beating the League Two side at Rodney Parade to reach the quarterfinals.
Manchester City end Newport's FA Cup dream as - espn.com
LONDON • Maurizio Sarri has admitted he would welcome a return to Italy after a "heavy year" at Chelsea, as Juventus edge closer to luring him back to the Serie A.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warned that some Manchester United players will not represent the club again after admitting they deserve to be in the Europa League next season and are miles adrift of the country's top clubs.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits playing in Europa League is right
Gotze, though, feels there are other ways to measure Dortmund's success under new coach Favre, who took charge after leaving Nice. "I think two things are important. Not only the result at the end of the season and if you make it in the Champions League or not, but also the way you achieve your goals is important as well," Gotze added.
Champions League: Gotze expects success for Dortmund - Sportstar
Two goals in two minutes has seen the Socceroos comfortably dispatch Palestine 3-0 at the Asian Cup. Socceroos bounce back at the Asian Cup with Palestine win | Goal.com Live Scores
Socceroos will bounce back, declares Arnold - smh.com.au
Liverpool held at Everton to surrender top spot in Premier League. Liverpool's Adam Lallana (center) and Everton's Seamus Coleman battle it out for possession. City by a point at the top of
Liverpool Held at Everton to Surrender Top Spot in Premier
LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi says he will miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured Achilles in Monday's (April 22) 2-2 draw against Burnley.. Read more at
Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi Says He Will Miss Rest Of Season
LEICESTER: Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side moved 10 points clear of
Ayoze Perez Heads Newcastle United Closer To Premier League
United bank on 'Goal threats' Manchester United will be relying on attacking players like Anthony Martial (third from right) when they visit the Nou Camp to face Barcelona in the second leg of
United Bank of India SWOT Analysis | Competitors & USP
Portugal coach Fernando Santos believes that talismanic forward Cristiano Ronaldo can continue playing at the highest level for both club and country for at least three to four years. Soccer
Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several
Football: Singapore Premier League club Warriors barred from foreign hires by Ministry of Manpower for second time - straitstimes Oil royalty claim: Kelantan withdraws suit against Petronas
The Times & The Sunday Times
The Europa League's top scorer Olivier Giroud took his tally to 10 with his strike against Slavia Prague. Manager Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea's slow starts to the second half of matches are becoming a "big problem", after they were forced to withstand a Slavia Prague fightback before reaching the Europa League semi-finals.
Football: Chelsea survive Slavia scare to reach Europa League
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight | Reuters.com
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming spain
tv soccer live stream sky
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch us soccer live stream
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch live soccer stream android
watch champions league live streaming crictime
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch soccer games live stream free
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch english premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
soccer tv live net stream
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
#tokyo #ballondor #soccer #satira #watchlive #footballdubai #bayernmunich #liverpoolfc #Liamgallagher #lfc #Liverpool #acmilan #rockstar #coutinho #footballschedule #gooners #goodday #realmadrid #coffeebreak #streamingbolaid #manchestercity #england #battuteepiche #JUVENTUS #midnight #nikesoccer #portsmouthfc #soccermemes #petercrouch #freekicks #transfernews #mancityvsliverpool #fcbarcelona #londoncity #salah #gym #conference #pagani #adidasslipon #crossfit #arsenal #zidane #bayern #thebeatles #ucl #coys #fut #ronaldo #meunier #winner #hotcoffee #sixtimes #oasisandbeatles #kickoff #boxing #livestreams #risate #uefanationsleague #arsenalnews #manchestercity #bestshishacafedubai #commentimemorabili #footballstreaming #liverpool #noelgallagher #realmadrid #Bar #visubal #comico #villarealcf
No comments:
Post a Comment