BARCELONA • 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
Shop our selection of Garage Heaters in the Heating, Venting & Cooling Department at The Home Depot.
Gareth Southgate praises 'electric' Raheem Sterling after hat
NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best running backs in NFL history. Take a look at how they stack up.
The Greatest Comeback in Football History | Super Bowl 51
Hazard's Chelsea future in doubt, Real move mooted, Football
From Madrid - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Roberto Firmino is fit to feature in the Champions League final clash with Tottenham on Saturday night. Firmino missed Liverpool's
Diehard fans may have to turn to the Internet to watch live broadcasts of the new season, as local TV channels have no chance in broadcast negotiations. It is the first time in many years Vietnam has failed to secure the telecast rights to Europe's biggest club championship.
Obituaries - , - Your Life Moments
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Manchester (United Kingdom) - Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said he could not understand what happened after Manchester City crushed his side 6-0 on Sunday — their biggest ever defeat in the Premier League.
Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man City
Mauricio Pochettino accused Tottenham's players of arrogance and complacency after they threw away a lead to lose 2-1 at relegation-threatened Southampton. Spurs, buoyed by the news their new
Pochettino slams 'arrogant' Tottenham - rte.ie
PODGORICA (REUTERS) - England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as Ross Barkley scored twice in a clinical 5-1 victory to continue their strong start to the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare - Reuters
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test . League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United interim boss Solskjaer insists he is happy to travel to
Solskjaer insists United don't fear Camp Nou test after
adtest.supersport.com/football/uefa-champions-league/news/190315/Solskjaer_insists_United_dont_fear_Camp_Nou_test_after_drawing_Barca
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the decisive return at Old Trafford.
Football: Solskjaer insists Man United don't fear Camp Nou
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media, says Pogba. Speaking ahead of France's Euro 2020 qualifier against Moldova on Friday, the Manchester United midfielder also said
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling treated differently by
UEFA open disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea amid alleged racist chanting vs MOL Vidi; So the Blues could face some disciplinary action against them should they be found guilty on February 28, but what sanctions could they face? When contacted by football.london, UEFA were not willing to discuss the case itself, however Article 6 of their
watch premier league darts live stream
watch soccer live stream apk
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch premier league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch premier league live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch premier league stream reddit
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch premier league games live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch live soccer stream android
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
how to watch premier league live streaming
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league live streaming vk
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch the champions league live stream
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch soccer live stream links
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch premier league live in stream
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch premier league live streaming vk
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
#knuckleball #midnight #trollfootball #fut #boxing #Barca #soccer #liverpoolcity #Liverpool #hoffenhiem #realmadrid #lovefootball #sunderlandafc #liverpool #bayernmunich #acmilan #americanfootball #gunners #insegreto #commentimemorabili #afcnews #433skills #comics #streamingbolaid #portsmouthfc #vandijk #satira #coys #liverpoolfc #henderson #zidane #soccer #ballondor #cristiano #champion #paulmcartney #linkstreaming #oasisofficial #24x7 #rugby #romania #sumbertv #gym #realmadridcf #MyDubai #thomasmeunier #roadtrip #leicestercity #thebeatles #golazo #oasisandbeatles #lfc #4Series #adidasslipon #girlsniteout #footballstreaming #beatifulgame #goodday #villarealcf #Barcelona #crossfit #noelgallagher #transfernews
No comments:
Post a Comment