Barca hope Messi makes a mess of Reds
BARCELONA will be looking for some more Lionel Messi inspiration as they take a 3-0 first-leg lead to Liverpool in their bid to reach a first Champions League final since 2015.
Ajax meanwhile welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Amsterdam with a 1-0 lead from last week as they seek to continue a fairytale season by reaching the final for the first time since 1996.
Liverpool will need a famous Anfield night if they are to turn round their deficit and reach a second consecutive final, and are hoping forward Mo Salah will cover from a head knock in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newcastle.
At the Camp Nou, Juergen Klopp’s Reds looked the better side for much of the game but former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez scored in the first half and an inspired Messi struck twice in the final 15 minutes.
Despite the three-goal cushion Barca remain wary after being eliminated last season by Roma in the quarter-finals despite a three-goal advantage from the first leg.
Barcelona, who have won their last two games at Anfield, are without forward Ousmane Dembele following a hamstring injury sustained at the weekend against Celta Vigo.
Coach Ernesto Valverde could name the team he picked for the first leg, with Philippe Coutinho starting against his former team. But he also has the option of playing Sergio Roberto in a four-man midfield with Messi and Suarez up-front.
“Losing Dembele is a real setback,” Valverde said. “When he got injured we did not want to put Coutinho on in his place so as not to run the risk of another injury.”
Liverpool will definitely be without forward Roberto Firmino because of a muscle injury, while Klopp may bring back Joe Gomez into defence after he was rested against Newcastle.
“We know how tough it is with the quality that they have throughout the whole pitch but we showed at times (in the first leg) that we can definitely create good chances against them and make it difficult against them,” defender Virgil van Dijk said.
Ajax seek to secure a place in the June 1 final at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid.
Donny van de Beek’s first-half goal gave Ajax the away win last week, and coach Erik ten Hag’s side go into the game with confidence further boosted by capturing the KNVN Cup with a 4-0 win over Willem II on Sunday.
They lead the Dutch Eredivisie on goal difference from PSV Eindhoven with two games left as they target a first league title since 2014.
“We are halfway there and in good shape. The willpower was very nice to see,” Ten Hag said after the first-leg win.
Tottenham are still without injured striker Harry Kane but should have forward Son Heung Min back after suspension and could include defender Jan Vertonghen.
The Belgian defender had to go off during the first leg because of a knock to his head, but did not suffer concussion and should be available.
Defender Davinson Sanchez believes Tottenham have to take the game to Ajax.
“If we let them play well, of course they’re going to play well, but if we’re going to play properly like we normally do we’ve got much more of a chance,” he said. “We have to try there to push back and not let them play this football.”