BARCELONA รข€¢ It was a decade ago when former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson dubbed Barcelona the best team he had faced, but those still left from that iconic generation have work to do.
Only three players remain from the treble-winning squad of 2009 and when Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique line up against Liverpool today, they may wonder if this could be their best chance for another, and perhaps final, Champions League triumph.
Ferguson conceded after their 2-0 final loss that "nobody had given us a hiding" like Pep Guardiola's team, although the Scot also then expressed doubts about their European Cup hegemony as "great teams go in cycles".
While Barcelona are indisputably Spain's best, wrapping up their eighth league title in 11 years over the weekend, Ernesto Valverde's men know their domestic dominance has been tainted by underachievement in Europe.
Regardless of whether they win another double this term - Valencia are their King's Cup final opponents - their season will be defined by whether the club lift its sixth Champions League on June 1.
Standing in their way of a first final appearance since 2015 are Liverpool who, with just 20 Premier League goals conceded, have the most miserly backline of any team in Europe's top five leagues.
But Barcelona's rearguard are no slouches as well. They have let in the fewest goals (six) of any side in the Champions League this season.
FINAL IN SIGHT
In the Champions League you cannot allow yourself not even a second of distraction. The objective is the next game. Nothing can distract us from trying to be in the final. We have to have the best game of our season.
LUIS SUAREZ, Barcelona striker, revealing his team's single-minded focus to reach the final.
And with Luis Suarez running the channels, Messi with his licence to roam and Philippe Coutinho cutting in from the left, the Catalans have the firepower to breach Liverpool's backline, marshalled by Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk.
There will also be no room for sentiment for Suarez, who face his former club in today's first leg at the Nou Camp for the first time since he left Liverpool in 2014.
The Uruguay striker, who was idolised on Merseyside during a prolific four-year stint, has every intention of shooting down the Reds as the Champions League is "a thorn in the side" the Spanish champions are desperate to remove.
While he admitted facing Liverpool "was special" for him, as the fans "treated me with a lot of love", and he still "speaks regularly with (Jordan) Henderson", he reiterated he now "belonged to Barcelona".
The 32-year-old told Spanish daily Sport: "After some years when we didn't get there, the Champions League semi-final has raised great expectations, the objective in this final part of the season is clear.
"In the Champions League you cannot allow yourself not even a second of distraction. The objective is the next game. Nothing can distract us from trying to be in the final. We have to have the best game of our season.
"After three years being knocked out... We had to return and we are on a good track. Facing my old team will be one more motivation."
Barcelona's record - they are unbeaten at home in 31 Champions League games - may give them the edge ahead of the return fixture at Anfield on May 7.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Ban completely unfair: Pochettino, Football News & Top
Alexis Sanchez came back to haunt Arsenal as the Chilean opened the scoring in Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round win on Friday to maintain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 100 percent record as
Sanchez haunts Arsenal as Man Utd maintain perfect record
Soccer: Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending someone to spy on Derby County in training - but insisted it was "not illegal". Derby called police on Thursday morning following reports
Football: Leeds manager Bielsa admits sending spy to Derby
There was never any question that Queen stood to benefit from the release of Bohemian Rhapsody, whether the film was a flop or a phenomenon, Queen would surely make out. Even still, BoRhap's box office and awards season success went far beyond anyone's expectations for a music biopic.
๐ฐ๐ด๐จ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฌ. ๐ฎ๐ข๐ณ๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ. - ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ข. A QUEEN IN THE MAKING - Wattpad
Football: Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle NEWCASTLE, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title suffered a potentially grievous blow as struggling Newcastle United earned a remarkable 2-1 comeback win over the champions at St James' Park on Tuesday.
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle
Gattuso has made many mistakes but let's not forget the squad he has.Milan failed to address their biggest problem which was the absence of a top left winger to take pressure of Suso.They even
Double injury blow for Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Liverpool clash Eric Dier suffered a groin injury in England's 5-0 win over Czech Republic last week and was forced to withdraw from Gareth Southgate's squad for their visit to Montenegro.
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash - Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to offer hope to Real Madrid fans that he will stay at the club during his side's Champions League trophy parade on Sunday.. The 33-year-old had a quiet game in the 3-1
The weird and wonderful world of Cristiano Ronaldo's endorsements
SINGAPORE - Former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Winston Lee withdrew his candidacy for one of nine seats on the executive committee members of the Asian Football
Football: Ex-FAS general secretary Winston Lee withdraws
Fantasy Football: Manchester City and Liverpool dominate our Goal Premier League Team of the Season Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City ; while surely devastated to have fallen just
Man City are champions LIVE: Latest reaction as Liverpool
A quiet first 60 minutes gave way to a big German goal vs. China in the two teams' opening match of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup™. Giulia Gwinn gets Germany on the board vs. China | 2019
Giulia Gwinn gets Germany over against China at Women's World
Headline Pochettino denies Spurs had one eye on Ajax clash after Hammers defeat Spurs put in a leggy and lethargic performance as West Ham became the first opposition team to score and win at the
Manchester United receive triple injury boost ahead of
Game of many returns for Gunners LONDON • Arsenal manager Unai Emery will face a familiar foe when the Gunners look to move a step closer to Europa League glory at Rennes today. French midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa endured an unhappy two years under Emery at Paris Saint-Germain where he was frozen out for an entire season and made to train with
Gunners boosted by return of four players | Arseblog News
Make that 10 wins from 11 games now for Manchester United as they swept aside Fulham on Saturday afternoon to move into the Premier league top four.
Man United beats Fulham to move into Premier League's top 4
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch us soccer live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
how to watch soccer live streaming free
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch premier league live streaming live
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch premier league live stream hd
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming free online
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch premier league live streaming online
watch live soccer game today
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer game live now
watch premier league darts live stream
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch the premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch live soccer stream android
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch usa soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming canada
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer live stream app
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch indian premier league live streaming
#uefanationsleague #linkstreaming #arsenalfantv #freekickerz #golazo #boxing #goodday #knuckleball #coys #mancity #elcasico #football #noelgallagher #americanfootball #firmino #soccer #vip #liverpoolcity #alissonbecker #Bar #comics #footballstreaming #coffeebreak #433skills #livestreams #league1 #acmilan #vandijk #gym #BMW #kickoff #championship #england #Liverpool #footballmeme #footballmemes #ucl #afcnews #jadwalbolahariini #bundesliga #rockstar #sunderlandafc #soccer #mane #football #nikesoccer #premierleague #oasisofficial #lfc #24x7 #gooners #crossfit #mensnightout #coyg #leicestercity #liverpoolfc #league2 #tokyo #golf #serieatim #oasisandbeatles #girlsniteout #cristiano #bayern #ballondor #oudmehta #championsleague #liverpool #villarealcf #manchestercity #manunited #calciatoribrutti #messi #livestreaming #cappucino #bestshishacafedubai #streamingbolaid #Liamgallagher #satira #romania #Barca #soccerbible #GarageCafeDxb #nationsleague #panini #manchestercity #MyDubai #freekick #chocolatecoffee #barcelona #rugby #soccermemes #realmadrid #manchestercity #liverpoolfans #gunners #cr7
0 comments:
Post a Comment