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
Paul Gascoigne 'can't wait' for train sex assault trial as he's 'done nothing wrong' FORMER England star Paul Gascoigne has told a court how he "can't wait" to face trial over an allegation of sexual assault, insisting: "I have done nothing wrong".
Paul Gascoigne in court: Former England star Gazza denies
March 30 (Reuters) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated his first game as permanent Manchester United manager with a 2-1 Premier League win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday. It was a far from
Rashford and Martial give United win over Watford
adtest.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/190330/Rashford_and_Martial_give_United_win_over_Watford
It was the ninth goal during Solskjaer's reign for Rashford, who has blossomed in the last three months, and has replaced Romelu Lukaku as United's main man up front. Foster, once of United, has been Watford's best player this season, and he underlined why with a brilliant instinctive save to deny Martial from close range as United threatened
Man Utd - Watford 2-1 Rashford & Martial goals give Ole win
The latter hit the winner in the Bhoy's 2-0 win over Kilmarnock last time out and will be looking to add to his tally and fire his side to SPL glory. Punters looking to back Celtic all the way would see £79.06 returns off a £10 bet on the Hoops to both win the second half in the match against Hearts and go on to lift the SPL trophy.
Sportpesa Premier League - spl.co.ke
Jurgen Klopp Excited By Premier League Title Fight | Football
Go from questioning to understanding Brainly is the knowledge-sharing community where 150 million students and experts put their heads together to crack their toughest homework questions.
วิทยาลัยนานาชาติ มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏเชียงใหม่
West Ham leave it late to see off spirited Huddersfield Substitute Javier Hernandez scored a late brace including a stoppage-time winner to help West Ham United beat Huddersfield Town 4-3 in a
Football: West Ham leave it late to see off spirited Huddersfield
Premier League: Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says coach Maurizio Sarri Description: Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri | Sport24
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 19, 2019, with the headline 'Treat women better, Salah urges Muslim world'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Treat women better, Salah urges Muslim world
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed sympathy with Thierry Henry after he was suspended by Monaco. The Ligue 1 strugglers announced on Thursday that Henry has been stood down as head
Suspended Henry set to lose Monaco job - uk.sports.yahoo.com
Man City are champions LIVE: Latest reaction as Liverpool finish second. Manchester City are champions after beating Brighton to pip Liverpool in a thrilling title race - latest updates here
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City - msn.com
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade. AFP May 20, 2019, 8:50 PM UTC. 1 / 3. Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/05/20/treble-winners-man-city-enjoy-parade/
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade AFP May 20, 2019 AFP 1 Comment Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre.
Treble winners Manchester City enjoy parade - sports
Juventus deny Pep link for manager TURIN • Juventus have poured cold water over rumours that they were planning a dramatic pounce for Pep Guardiola, saying that they had never even spoken to the Manchester City boss.
Juventus deny Pep link for manager - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/juventus-deny-pep-link-for-manager/
TURIN • Juventus have poured cold water over rumours that they were planning a dramatic pounce for Pep Guardiola, saying that they had never even spoken to the Manchester City boss. "It's a strange world, we've not had any contact with Guardiola nor have we ever thought about it given that he's under contract," Juve's […]
Juventus deny making an approach for Guardiola
0 comments:
Post a Comment