A meeting to the tunes of final. This poster between FC Barcelona and Liverpool is enough to make dream more of a football fan as the shock promises to be intense. Between two of the best attacks in Europe, the fight will be necessarily beautiful, one month of a final of the Champions League, both clubs aspire to win.
FC Barcelona, King of Camp Nou
It is always difficult to face Barça, but it is almost mission impossible when the meeting takes place in the Catalan enclosure. This season in the Champions League, only Tottenham has a draw (1-1), after a meeting without a stake for men Valverde. In decisive games, Barcelona atomized Olympique Lyonnais (5-1) and Manchester United (3-0). But Liverpool is an opponent of another caliber. Champions of Spain since Sunday, the Blaugranas are still in the race to achieve the double Liga-Champions League, they had achieved in 2015. An opportunity not to be missed, especially as his biggest rival, Real Madrid , triple title holder, is no longer part.
This Liverpool reception also sounds like a reunion for two Catalan players. Philippe Coutinho, transferred to Barcelona in January 2018 for 160 million euros (bonus included), has played more than 200 matches in the Liverpool jersey. In trouble in Barcelona, where he is not regular, the Brazilian will be keen to shine against his former team, just as ... Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan played three seasons with the Reds between 2011 and 2014, and finished top Premier League scorer in his last season before flying to Spain. This is the first time the two men have played against their former team.
Liverpool wants to return to the final
Unhappy finalist of the last edition, beaten by Real Madrid (3-1), Liverpool wants this time to raise a trophy which flees it since 2005. The Reds did not also made in the detail to reach the last square of the competition. In the quarter-finals, Jürgen Klopp's men easily eliminated FC Porto (6-1 overall), and advanced to Camp Nou full of hopes and certainties. In all competitions, they remain on ten consecutive victories, and are still fighting for the title in the Premier League, Manchester City ahead of a small point.
Led by the formidable trio Salah-Mané-Firmino, the Reds can also count on an iron defense. Central defender Virgil Van Dijk has been voted best Premier League player by his peers, and has not been dribbled any time since the start of the season! It is no coincidence that the Reds have taken only 20 goals in the Premier League, and have lost only once, against Manchester City. Barça is warned, and the duel Messi-Van Dijk looks captivating.