@richccfc Over, huh? Tell me exactly how did you predict Barcelona's comeback against PSG, Roma's comeback against Barca, Ajax's comeback against Real and United's comeback against PSG? very curious.
its pathetic how some people are criticising messis goal.As if he were to stop nutmeg van dijk and produce some flashes then shoot the ball And tore the net apart. SERIOUSLY ....
Its CL and it doesnt always ask for flashes of ur flat muscular belly.
Infact ask the who lost this battle
If you want dribbles, ask for Neymar. If you want free kicks, ask for Juninho. If you want goals, ask for Ronaldo. If you want magic, ask for Ronaldinho. If you want everything together ... ask for Messi.
It's awesome to see two biggest pathetic fans in Barca and Liverpool having war of words. LoL. Keep it up.
Talking of the game, Liverpool were dominant but Barca were efficient. 3-0 score doesn't do justice to Liverpool. But I think this tie is forgone conclusion. Hard luck Pool. Barca is not gonna capitulate again like last season. It's not fair having Messi on any side.
It looked sometimes that all the luck that Liverpool had this season in EPL and CL (last minutes goals, penalties saved, decisions from referees, missed chances by opponents) was against them today. They deserved a better result if to be fair, but Barca has this small bearded guy , and he is quite good:) When I was small I listened to my father`s stories about Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Garrincha, Platini. Now I am lucky enough to witness even something and someone even greater for my own stories already
@tar88s I mean if LUCK gets you that far(1 KO stage further than City + only 1 point behind City in the league), then City with that luck is going to win all games throughout the season.
Luck cannot happen if the game was prepared a different way, or the opposition prepared differently. So in the end, it's not luck.
This game though, Liverpool got outsmarted, out-experienced. People say they deserve a better scoreline, but that's what experience and Messi's quality do, they hurt.
Can't celebrate this victory too hard bc the Roma disaster is still fresh in my mind but I sure hope Valverde gives proper rest to the main players against Celta.
@splint3r Guys, don't you know what " " means? I was mocking Liverpool fans, who say that Alisson is the best. Ter Stegen has been the best for some time now. De Gea is currently sh*t. Oblak is also overhyped, he has good defenders in front of him.
@k.1 Ter Stegen and Oblak are up there in the first 2 positions of the podium. Depending on taste (or the kind of team/playing style you want), you may find one better than the other. For Barcelona's style, Ter Stegen is no doubt the best. As for Allison and De Gea, they're good keepers but not even close to shose two. De gea can make all the miracle saves he wants, but then he would f-it-up all too often: simply not consistent enough.
@GioMonaldo Yep. I'd still go for De Gea as tied first with Oblak though, if it wasn't for him being so damn inconsistent for the past couple of seasons...
1- Messi was flawless. I seriously have no idea what ppl were talking about. Even in the first half, he was magical, provided many killer passes and destroyed liverpools defense. 2- As i said before this match started, dembele should have started this game. He is the perfect man to exploit liverpools high line as we saw in the latter stages of this game. 3- The ratings do no justice to vidal :( He was a beast IMO. Made some mistakes but he was rutheless in defense and made some very important tackles.
@k.1 In my opinion Dembele would be totally invisible under the Liverpool press in the most part of the game. Besides that, he had 2 very good chances for good shots in the end, especially the last one, but that was smth inexplicable. Anyway 4-0 would be too good for Barca.
@k.1 Coutinho was very slow today, true, though he showed his top class few times already, even against MU at home. But Dembele.. the kid definitely has confidence issues. He might be super talented and fast, but so far he doesn`t impress to say at least. In this kind of matches is very unlikely he could have regained his confidence for sure.
@tar88s Yes i agree coutinho is better. I do not like dembele that much to be honest. Nonetheless... I was talking about THIS particular matchup. Dembele is the only one who can outrun Van Dijk. If he is on the field, Liverpool will have to keep their defense a bit lower thus giving messi more operating space or suffer a counter-attacking nightmare.
I'd play Dembele and Coutinho up front VS Celta with Suarez and Messi totally rested....not even on bench. Dembele is second rate and Coutinho is underperforming but they should be good enough to keep the show on the road. Suarez has lots of minutes in his legs and could do with a weekend off and why risk the GOAT in a meaningless fixture?
@iluveverton Dembele lacks confidence. Especially after the coach bring him on in extra time as a time waster sub. He shud have taken his chance and boost his confidence and help him make more important minutes. U don't know shit.
@todobless We may have to disagree here dobless. Dembele is days away from his 22nd birthday. No longer a kid is footballing terms. he has 11 goals in two Liga seasons with Barcelona. 15 if we include Liga and CL. Not always playing of course but has had plenty of game time. The return just isn't there.
@iluveverton well if it was Juup Heynkes than yes he would have given his star players a rest against Celta Vigo. But Vaverde I'm not so sure. Maybe Messi could get a rest but Suraez? Don't think so. They sold Alcacer. They have sold Munir El Hadadi. And for some weird reason Valverde is not sold on Boateng.
@tkr I think salah will pull a "world cup neymar" next game. He always lets stuff like this go to his head. He will propably try to shoot from acward positions when its better to pass.
@BSN You probably missed the whole 'show' but the first 700 or so comments were from that troll Flopessi (and his alternate accounts) who lost his mind and spammed endlessly, then the mods deleted all his comments and his fake accounts. Same thing happened in the Spurs game comment section.
The second leg is gona be harder than this. The noise. Camp mou is vv nice. But english fan are gona shout the loudest there. Klops man are gona go all out.
@nceshNcero are you high or something? Yes Liverpool has great match atmosphere- no doubt, no doubt about that. But saying that atmosphere in anfield is going to be louder than 98,299 at nou camp is utterly mindbogglingly asinine. Barca had more attendance on this day than Borussia Dortmund which on average have the highest in the entire Europe.
@Ffaris AND furthermore, he claims 'Pool will turn this result around, by [stressed out] 'english' fans' noise (alone, it seems).
SO YES, he's high on some chems I'd say.
@emadx Well, this one is really old... no-one has been that stupid to put it like that at least over recent 5-6 years.
the bestest still remains ''national flop'', less stupid by the way.
@emadx "In big games" is does not necessarily imply "in ALL big games". I'd say he goes missing in big games often enough, when the result goes against them. That is, in my opinion, the biggest difference between him and Ronaldo. When things go against Messi, half the time he pouts and whines. When things go against Ronaldo, he gets pissed off, picks himself up and tries harder. ON AVERAGE, of course.
@Motorbreath U are forgettig he fact that when ronaldo does NOT show up. His old real madrid team-mates step up their game. Do not make me count every important game (especialy finals) that ronaldo has gone invisible. On the other hand, Benzema, Bale and Ramos have out of this world stats and performances in big games. When messi does not show up in a big game, barca are usualy eliminated...
@Motorbreath you're a very reasonable and deep thinking person. And of all your response shows that. It's just that Messi and Ronaldo comparison you just made that compelled me to respond.
But I beg to differ. Even if Messi doesn't score he is still contributing. He is Baggio-style trequartista who scores a lot of goals. Ppl like Riquelme,Veron, Baggio and Zidane even if they didn't scored lot of goals still contributed to the match.
Now Ronaldo used to be super decent winger who scored a lot of goals and assist. Now he is more or less of a striker who scores and assist a lot of goals.
Saying that say Ronaldo tries harder and Messi doesn't is not valid. Because they both try harder if things goes against them-they are professional footballers. If you saying that Messi doesn't track back than you could say the same for Ronaldo too. But both of tracking back would diminish their attacking output. And yes both Ronaldo and Messi are awesome.
@Ffaris I agree with you on all those points. I should've been more specific though. The specific "try harder" detail I was referring to is the mental aspect. When things go against Messi he definitely tries harder, but in a "Shit, I must put in a better shift 'cause these guys are clobbering us!" kind of way. With Ronaldo it's more like "WHAT? How dare you mere mortals have the audacity to think you're better than me and my team? Let me show you back to your place!" The best example of that is to look at them both playing for their respective national teams. Portugal have good players, but nowhere near as good as Argentina. Yet Ronaldo will often inspire great team performances for his national side through pure grit and stubbornness, while Messi is more likely to demoralize his, when things go against them.
@Motorbreath I said you had no clue because you think having some great strikers make Argentina better than Portugal. Did you know Portugal won the Euro final against France without Ronaldo? Portugal has a much better all around team. During the Messi era, Argentina had shit GK, shit defense and shit midfield with aging players or no creativity or midfield control. Yet, they reached the final of 3 major tournaments. If they had Riquelme or a Kante or a Vidal between 2010-2018, Messi & Argentina would have won more than 3 major trophies.
@Motorbreath I'm sorry to say but you have no clue. Ronaldo has gone missing in big games much more than Messi. But the only difference is his team mates have stepped big time. In Ronaldo's case, he was the beneficiary more than his team mates. However, in case of Messi, his team mates are the beneficiary more than him.
Ronaldo's a monster goal scorer and does posses an awesome winning mentality. But when he doesn't wear his shooting boots, becomes a liability unless he gives assists. He is not good at play making like Messi. Benzema during Ronaldo's Real era probably played the most selfless game a footballer has ever played. He just played for Ronaldo. There were many games where Ramos' thumping headers won them the game or brought them back in the game in the final moments. While Bale's over all score count is nowhere near to Ronaldo's, his important goals count (in cup semis & finals) is as good as Ronaldo's.
@Motorbreath Ah yes than I agree. Ronaldo is a leader. Whose fiery and passionate attitude and self-belief inspire his teammates and turns game around. Yeah Ronaldo underrated leadership qualities very similar to Lothar Matthaus or Karl-Heinz Rummeniege. Although I dont' have the honor of seeing Matthuas in action but I have research alot about him. And Ronaldo fiery persona and ability to inspire others is very similar to that great man (Matthaus). It is bit unfortunate that Ronaldo leadership qualities are not discussed much.
@Ffaris I was just searching for a particular comment and end up reading this. You'll see, I happen to work at the sports' section on a casino, so I end up watching a lot of games from different sports even if I don't want to, mostly matches of big teams, like Madrid and Barcelona. I'm particularly interested in la liga since spanish is my first language, so I check its games with more attention. Long story short, I have a hard time figuring what could you identify as "leadership qualities" in Cristiano Ronaldo. He is very, very competitive, no doubt about that- alwayd do his best and expects his team to do the same, however screaming at them, trying to score by himself even when his teammates are in a better position, blaming his teammates when they lose, taking the free kicks when he isn't good at it anymore... that isn't leadership. He is way too selfish to be called a leader. Perhaps his "leadership qualities aren't discussed much because you're imagining them?
Barca delivered and saved humanity. Still have to go to Anfield were it will be tough. Wish them the best. Now its time for Man City to also step up to the plate and finish the job .
what I said a few days ago, just wait and see if Messi or Salah... The GOAT show was wonderfull again :)))
Baloon D'or winner is already known................................
@turgaycelik27 LOL. The 2 are not even comparable. Salah is good but hebis nowhere messis level. Being a goal poacher does not make u the best in the world (unless u score twice the ammount of goals). Hazzard, Neymar and Mbappe are all above Salah and by no small margin IMO.
This match was very balanced. Draw was a fair result, we could even see Liverpool turn it around, but with that 2nd goal, which was illegal, since a Liverpool player was pushed, it made a big impact on Liverpool player's mentality and they kinda gave up, still they could have scored and leave everything open to the second leg. Now, it will be very hard...
@hellreaper MARC Andre-Ter-ste-gen.........It's not balanced when you have this keeper in between the posts. It's a cheat code. Messi and Ter Stegen are the most important players in Barcelona. Milner threw away. Dembele threw away. Game was open but Barcelona took their chances.
@hellreaper Nah, that second goal was borderline at best, but I'd say more fair and square than borderline. And it wasn't that one that shot Liverpool's morale, it was the third. Although I wouldn't say they gave up even after that one. Alisson should've definitely positioned himself better though... :/
@Lulzovich That, was why he's a sub. I just can't believe Barca spent 300M or so on 2 players who play the same position. To be fair, maybe if he was subbed in 20 minutes earlier he wouldn't be so fresh and would have put it in. Players need 10min or so to get into the game and to miss your first shot like he did was somewhat predictable.
Messi is scoring goals at a faster rate than Ronaldo (will most likely overtake him soon) ,assists more than Ronaldo (actually has more career assists in fewer games), creates way more chances than Ronaldo (Messi almost always top of the pile for key passes), dribbles much better than Ronaldo (therefore creates spaces for teammates and can destabilize an entire defense on his own). Messi is a far more dangerous offensive weapon and a much better player. Don't let the fact that they both have 5 golden balls cloud your judgement.. Messi has better numbers, is better with eye test and dominates games with his unmatchable talent. I think only people with a mental illness or a weird affiliation to Ronaldo think he's as good. Messi has been the best player in the world since 2009. It's between Pele and Messi just in terms of share numbers , goals/assists, influence and dominance of a game. And I go with Leo. He's better than Pele.
@excalibur every time messi does something good u have to compare him to Ronaldo? CR7 is the measuring stick for GOAT now? wdf.........give it a rest. Messi is the most complete(assists, goals,dribbles, key-passes) Ronaldo is a great finisher.
@excalibur Totally agree Excalibur. On virtually every comparable offensive stat Messi is measurably superior. Throughout his career he participates in a goal every 70 mins. It is 85mins for CR7. Huge difference. CR7 has had a superb career but Messi is unarguably superior....key passes, dribbles, goals, assists, chances created, chances converted, etc etc all tell the same story. Player of the tournament at the World Cup, World Youth Cup and Copa America - CR7 has no such awards - suggest he doesn't bottle either
@batamerah Maradona cared barca in laliga ,napoli in seria a, and argentina to 2 world cups and in argentina he hadnoone to play whit.Messi on d other hand messi started in Barca when they alredy was best in the world whit ronaldinho anry xavi iniesta poyol,and lest just face it barca played a lot beter football back then.Tonight they played very ugly game,timewasting all d time soarez and co weavin their hands at reffs way too much and yes tanks to messi and liverpool been unable to convert their chances barcelona won.And do i realy have to tell you why he is bottler in argentina???
The superior team won, nothing more. Refs robbed Barca of penalty after a clear and deliberate handball by Matip in the first half, so this is a great result against a 12 man team. Second leg will be tough but Barca players will be more rested so clear advantage for the visitors. Vamos Barca! go home scousers.
@Motorbreath I like that the referee had no tolerance for penalty-begging and let play go on almost every time. He also could have given a penalty for Pique's roughness a few minutes earlier, but if he gave Barca a break he would give Liverpool a break too. The handball wasn't intentional either, it was by his side and the ball just so happened to go there.
@tkr Funny thing about that one is... Mané would've gotten the pen, had he stayed down instead of being stubborn and keeping the ball in play. Even if the ref wouldn't have awarded it right away, there would've been a VAR review which would've ultimately resulted in a penalty kick. Even if he had helped with a dive á la Salah against Cardiff, as Piqué had clearly fouled him. He got the free kick in the other two situations, when he went down way easier.
@GioMonaldo Less of the "go home scousers" Gio. The Scousers ARE at home hoping Liverpool lose. Meanwhile the Norwegians and Irish are crying into their beer while the Evertonian Scouse nation cheer with Messi and Suarez........Forza Barca. Do it for Everton.
@iluveverton ahhh interesting. A native of England would have no sympathy for English teams. Especially their derby rivals.I would have sorta expected that response. So glad you're on Barca team.
But @Champion has some weird boner for all English team. Why? It doesn't even happen in Europe, Americas and the entire freaking world. Would Boca supporter cheer on Riveer Plate to win the Copa America?
Well Barcelona really have made Liverpool eat a bige piece of humble pie. That was despite Micael Owens bold predictions. Still think Liverpool is gonna make a comeback. As Roma was easily able to overturn the deficit. Liverpool is right now the best team in England. Pretty sure they can easily overturn the tie. But anyways I'm glad Messi of scoring against the team he never scored against. So it's kinda of nifty record for the little magician.
@Ffaris If Liverpool are the best team in England, why would they be 2nd now? Also only 1 point against their main rival in 2 matches this season and the only loss too by the way.
@Ffaris Not sure about the humble pie, to be honest. Certainly none of the players nor the manager claimed anything other than that it's a tough as shit tie. They did say that they believe in themselves and think they have a chance, but aside from some pundits and rabidly optimistic fans, no one stuck their neck out claiming they were gonna beat Barcelona senseless. And I'd say there aren't many people out there, including many not-too-subjective Barca fans, who wouldn't agree that the scoreline doesn't really reflect how Liverpool played. The only thing they can be accused of is wasting their scoring chances, because other than that they did a pretty decent job. But then again "pretty decent" is not good enough with Messi playing against you...
There's no excuse for Dembele to fail so hard with that shot at the end. I just don't trust him to perform well in high stake matches like these. Coutinho has been mediocre for Barca, but I don't think he would mess up as bad as Dembele did tonight.
@GioMonaldo His speed makes him a great 60th minute sub or so, to fix whoever isn't having a great game. He's a great player to have on your team but he's got to be mentally prepared to perform. This game should have been 5-1 but he wasn't there.
@tkr Yes! you get it! it's his mindset that's his only real problem. His acceleration is out of this world, he needs to focus and start putting it to good use.
Harsh on Liverpool and one could be forgiven for thinking they deserved at least one goal. But goals are not deserved, goals are scored. Barca were clinical with their chances and Liverpool weren't, fair play to them. There's still a chance of them turning this on its head at Anfield, but they sure as hell have their work cut out for them.
@GioMonaldo They scored 3 from 5 shots on target, so 60%. I'd say that's plenty clinical at this level. Liverpool scored 0 from 4 shots on target. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that 0% is quite a fucking bit less than 60%... :D
@GioMonaldo Yes and no. There is a good reason why "shots on target" is a better metric to look at than "total shots". See, if a full-back slices a cross and it goes sideways, resulting in a goal kick rather than a potential assist, it counts as a shot. If a throw-in fizzles past everyone and out for a goal kick, it counts as a shot. But hitting the post or the crossbar counts as a shot on target. As does shooting the ball straight at the keeper or hitting a defender on the goal line. "Clinical" means putting the ball behind them and into the back of the net. Taking a long shot from 30 yards out, which almost brings down a plane flying at low altitude, doesn't really affect clinicality no matter how you put it. It's a wasted chance, sure, but it's not "unclinical".
@neumi17 Crazy statistic, only 3 saves is true, but the value was in his presence this game. Always there, facilitated the transitions very well, flawless game for him. Exactly what anybody would expect from their GK, you couldn't ask for more.
@neumi17 It's not the amount of saves that counts, it's their importance. Milner should arguably have done better with his shot, but the other two he made weren't as easy. Clean sheet, fair play to him.
@MrNemobody One of them was... :D Hell, he probably wouldn't have had time to jump out of the way even if he tried to! Even I could've stopped that shot, all I would've had to do was just stand there. Not spilling it is a whole different story though... :D
Messi doesn't score often against Liverpool but when he does, he makes it special. Congratulations Messi on 600 club goals. Let's get that Treble! Visca Barca!
@Champion which team do you really support? It seems like you're supporting every English out there. Either you home team sucks. Or you are non-native resident to England. Because North of England can't stand south of England. Liverpulidan won't stand Evertonian or manchester united fan. Spurs won't stand Chelsea or Arsenal fans. But you are sort of peculiar peculiar exception of the rule. Heck even in Germany Borussia fans have huge dislike Schalke team.
@Ffaris Why do you care? I am not a child like most fans, I am a fan of football. My team isn't in the Champions League, doesn't mean I can't enjoy seeing tactical battles between different teams. Your comment about north/south teams etc is childish and pointless. Most football fans are immature, many young and many never grown up. I am a mature person that can maintain a balanced view always.
@Champion Honestly don't care about you mate. But what I do care is a resident of England and supporting every EPL club like a hustler really got me curious. Becuase it's weird, out of place illogical and doesn't make sense.
"Most football fans are immature, many young and many never grown up. I am a mature person that can maintain a balanced view always."
Wow did you just called 55.62 million population of England, 741.4 population of europe and 422.5 million population of South America as immature and childish? Jesus are you sure you're projecting your own on others? Listen mate resorting self-praise like won't convince anyone of your balanced view and maturity.
So seriously why do you support the entire EPL team. Yeah Africans and Asians and Arabs are allowed to do that. Because they have no local stake any EPL team. But your mature personality and balanced views really stuck me as odd. Really odd.
@neumi17 Nope, he didn't. He dribbled to the side of him, before shooting past him. Not the same as dribbling PAST him. Check out the match stats: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1341370/Live/International-European-Championship-2019-Netherlands-Germany
@Motorbreath Well, I saw the match and it was shure a dribble. Gnabry was at the far left corner and van Dijk was in his way to shoot. If you get by a defender you always have to choose a side. Gnabry went by on the right hand side, had some space and van dijk couldn`t prevent him from scoring. That is a perfekt dribbling like Messi does it in every game. Gnabry had to get by van Dijk in order to shoot, which he did ...
@neumi17 I saw the match too, and I do agree that it was borderline. But apparently the way he did it does not meet the criteria of being "dribbled past". Pretty sure Messi doesn't get all those dribbles counted towards his totals either. Again, borderline.
Very important win for Barca with a clean shield, very nice goal by Suarez, and 2 goals by Messi .... Not Messi´s day but 2 goals and magic dribbling skill.... Messi is GOAT and MOTM as always .... UCL final loading. ... Treble loading .... 6th Ballon d´Or loading ... But Liverpool was better with tons of big chances, but 3-0 for BARCA!
@Akhthar Nah, the game swung back and forth and Liverpool were definitely better at times. But how well you play means nothing, it's how well you score that counts.
"Liverpool will win this tie. I'm sorry but Messi always crumbles against pressure and without xavi + iniesta feeding him all those balls on a silver platter - it's simply not going to happen. I won't be here to say I told you so." -Bottlejob007
I hope you are still here to see how stupud you can get.
Where are those cowards who said Messi was non-existent and he was having a shit game at half time.. Lol..
Messi haters expect Messi magic in each gane than his fans.. And he gives them almost always.. That's what makes him the GOAT..
I just say this: there is no way someone that watched this match can say Barcelona is a fair winner. Of course they were more clinical, but they play at home at a terrible form, get scholed in their own possession style and manage to get away with a 3-0 in the first leg. Reminds me of that Barça-Real that was pretty much the same way, with the same game result. Messi and Suarez are the game changers here. And, once again, i love Messi, but there's no way he gets 9.8. He didn't play for more than half of the game and just because of the freekick (awesome) it doesn't mean that his game was nearly flawless.
@HPereira You said it yourself: "Messi and Suarez are the game changers". They scored THREE GOALS from fewers chances, whilst Liverpoll's attack could hit goal only 4 times in 15 shots, and evebn in those 4 times they couldn't beat that man-mountain Ter Stegen (another game changer)
@HPereira You know nothing about football. Barca didn't want to give an away goal to Liverpool. They scored 3 good goals. Go and get a good sleep.. You'll be alright..
@ustat777 If you look only at his performances against English clubs you can find at least 2 better than this (Actually you need only to take his matches vs. Arsenal, to be honest).
@groovy Yeah but this is a semi final. Besides his goals and amazing dribbles, he created many scoring chances for his teammates including last minute miss from Dembele. But still you might be right, I didn't watch every game
Can Klopp explain why Firmino does not start every game. We all know that Mané and Salah are way more hyped(rightly so), but Firmino brings the creativity, which is necessary for Liverpool's game. What a horrible game from Mané too.
@MUATSCINMA because they are playing against Messi & Barcelona. You can't expect a Liverpool game like you see against PL sides. Klopp got his tactics right, it's just that his forwards were not clinical, Barca put in a good defensive performance and Messi & Suarez were great..
Semi finals and Messi shows up big time . 2 spectacular goals and an insane number of successful dribbles. Salah was great too but he just hits the post, that's the difference.
@neumi17 Hope you were able to locate Messi in the second half (as you had mistaken in the first half.. lol)
But I appreciate your willingness to applaud Barca & Messi despite being a hater..
@Akhthar I am pretty shure you don`t really understand the term " hater "... I judge players by what they deliver on the pitch, not by what their names are. First half Salah was much more active and better ( as the stats easily showed ) but second half Messi made the difference again. So whats your problem, is a player always great just because you like him ? Criticism is no hate. If my team sucks and plays badly I acknowledge that the opponent is better and deserves the win ...
@neumi17 The MOTM in the decisive second leg V Lyon. MOTM in the decisive second leg V Manchester Utd. Now MOTM in what is probably the decisive match V Liverpool. Throw in 34 Liga goals and a 10th Liga medal plus a Copa final .....................Nailed on certainty for the Ballon d'Or.
@jesper Fair play to him. Fact is we are in the presence of footballing genius. You cannot legislate for it or control it. If the little master is on song there is nothing to be done.
@neumi17 that's because they know that preventing a Liverpool goals
is more valuable than scoring two themselves and unlike Atleti they know they will get their chances to score one or two.
I think Barca will attack more at Anfield to get an away goal and after that, they will stay compact.
I don't understand this pontuations. I'm a big Messi fan, but he's just not playing this game at all and he gets 7.2??? Also, when you compare the Liverpool first half you just can't say their average is 6.26 compared with Barcelona's 6.94. Unfair score at half time, as i think the draw was more appropriate. But Suarez is a beast.
@HPereira Barca got a chance, they buried. Liverpool got a chance, they didn't bury it. So Barca is expectedly .7 ahead of Liverpool. You should have told Suarez miss it as it would be an injustice if he scored it.
Regarding the rating, it's stats based. Just look at the stats a bit more thoroughly and you will understand it.
Did you see one move which Messi started from the right side in his half?
The match has been almost even and the Suarez goal from Alba pass is the difference. But I see Barca growing into the game.
Second half will be more interesting..
@xavistu I'm surprised Messi didn't try to dribble past him, he's taking far too much time. It's the same tactic other teams use: Avoid van dijk, concentrate on his teammates.
11 goals for Pool in the last 3 games (all tournaments), 4 goals for Barca. Not just based on that, but overall; I kinda see Barcelona as the underdog in the semis for the first time since like early 2000's
Dembele HAS to start. Liverpool plays a very high line of defense + theyre fullbacks are deadly if not pressured and he is the most equiped to punish them in transition. Lets see if valverde addapts his formation based on the opposition or he just coppy pastes his recent starting 11
If you've followed Barcelona, you'll see they've been pretty shaky, especially defensively, at times. If Liverpool manage to contain Messi, and Klopp if any coach knows how to he does, that should be a game set match for Liverpool.
@BSN what are you talking about? Suarez scored 0 goals in UCL this season and 4 goals in 27 matches of last 3 UCL seasons LOL, if in this Barca was one more player who performs in Messis level constantly Barca would win every UCL
Liverpool had a great shot at finally winning EPL again after 29 years and now they will most likely lose by 1 point. They'll be mad as hell; Messi to ghost. Liverpool 2-1
Barca should dominate possession but they are vulnerable to Liverpool’s counter-attack and the pace of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah can cause plenty of problems.
@Lapulga Agree, I don't get sports culture either apparently. To be "cultured within sports" and "to be IGNORANT" are two different things to me. Maybe I need a shrink (?) I never seem to feel the need for biggots
Barca will destroy Liverpool in CL. First leg would be a tight match though as both team will aim not to concede goals to be first priority. 1:0 / 2:1 would be appropriate
Liverpool will have to impress a lot here to get a good outcome for the home game. I don´t think they´ll leave this game without scoring goal(s) or die trying. I have a feeling the goat might have a good day too, so btts. Ajax - Liverpool finalists
@swagio Why's that? I don't get the underestimation that especially Ajax get... Still. After playing quite strong in the CL all season and eliminating teams like Real, Juve and now quite possibly Spurs.
@specter I'm not underestimating Ajax, they are a very good side. The teams they've beaten though have been misfiring to say the least. RM have obviously turned to cack this season without cr7; meanwhile Juve seemed to expect him to just deliver them the CL. Spurs are decent but are still miles off the pace of city and liverpool in the league. I don't want to disrespect Ajax as they've done something pretty incredible in most likely making it to the final; It just reminds me a little too much of Croatia in the WC.I could easily be wrong but I expect the winner of this to lift the title.
@SteveHyland If that's how it ends after the final wistle, I'm sure he will. But if it's one thing I've learned about him and the team he's built... He's not going to Nou Camp to lose!
@Motorbreath- For sure, I just hope for his sake that he doesn't go gung-ho from a good position and end up in a worse one. I'm rarely of the opinion that teams should sit back from the start but if Liverpool find themselves something like 3-2 down after 80 minutes then they should shut up shop rather than aim to draw 3-3 and concede on the counter.
@groovy- There was a lot of (now deleted) spam by a couple of trolls. Those comments have since been deleted but the total number listed on the home page has remained what it would have been with said comments included.
@footballover Sure they do, whenever it's tactical to do so. Couldn't have been many Liverpool supporters hoping that City clobbered United last week... :D
Liverpool tactics makes the players look realy good. To a point you the bayern that beat us in 2013. They are fit and can prsss well. Like bayern. They pressed us really well.
Barcelona is very special in Camp Nou. Once they score the first goal in there, they tend to score and create more and Liverpool really needs to watch how they react once they concede otherwise they'll have a mountain to climb in the second leg.
2:0 Liverpool will concede possession here. Game will be won in midfield. Busquets, Rakitic and Arthur will school Liverpool’s midfield. Messi Suarez and Coutinho is hard to contain them at Camp Nou. Liverpool’s problem is they play only one type of football. Barcelona are so experienced at this level they will control the match!
@albgunn "Liverpool’s problem is they play only one type of football." Unlike Barcelona, who also play only one type of football... :D In fact, much more so than Liverpool do. Unless Messi's not on the pitch, of course. Then they play their second type of football. :D
@Motorbreath delusion is after all a mental illness. If you know football you should not be biased. Barcelona at Camp Nou boasts worlds best players and thats how they been operating for a while! EPL has been overrated for so many years now. What I saw this evening was Liverpool had XI donkeys on the pitch. Barcelona has. I World Class players! Learn to embrace the best and be humble! Liverpool will have a top 4 finish by the end of the season. Their players are no better and serial loser Flopp should learn that football is about ability and not chance!
Im going with a 2-1 barca here, well rested barca team at camp nou with the record they have here surely can win this, it will be very tricky at anfield tho, I'd say 1-1 draw there, if the messiah wouldn't have promised to bring ucl home I would think liverpool were favorites with this seasons performances, but the lion is hungry for this trophy and that means game over for liverpool if he's in the mood which he will be
Liverpool lost all 3 of their away group matches against P$G, Napoli and Red Star. If we can't beat them with our well rested super team, then we don't deserve the UCL. I repeat, Red fkn Star beat Liverpool by 2 goals!
Especially for countinho. Leaving liverpool to go to a lesser team if barcelona loose. Lots at stake for barcelona than for liverpool. Eish. I really pray that barcellna player bee at their level best. Coz it will be very embarrasing.
@nceshNcero Coutinho already won more trophies in 1.5 seasons at Barca than Liverpool have in the last 10 year. Even if he doesn't win the UCL, he's still playing at a far bigger club.
@adrian.k he had a "small" muscle tear... its still a TEAR. If liverpool are foolish enough to play him, he well not be on his 100% and risks the chance of re-injury
@Djey its so true. But i really wish barcelona gets through. They have done really well in then group stages up until now. This could be barcelonas last chance before they rebuild the old squad
@BarcaPlsLetMeDown I can't understand how these people have so much time on their hands to spend that much time trolling other people/players. I mean they must really have sad lives tbh
@sonja Take a good look around you. Sad lives is exactly what most people have nowadays, despite being significantly better off (on average) than people from only 3-4 generations ago.
What is with all the deleted comments? Have these people nothing else to be doing in their life? Just enjoy the moment and lets see who comes out on top. Hopefully Messi gets a brace and Barca win 3-1 so one of the GOAT gets another chance to win the most prestigious trophy once again. Both teams deserve to go through and be in the final, both play great attacking football lets just hope there are plenty of goals from some of the best players on the planet either way.
Tough test for Barca,. Barca plays a high line, Liverpool likes to run in behind, barca attacks down the middle and VVD stops even water from passing through. Barca's weakness are Liverpool's strengths, and their strengths in attack are what has made Liverpool famous in defense,a good prediction would say Liverpool to score more than barca, in any other season this would be true, but not this one because Messi promised us. I'm sure Liverpool is going to be touched by the wand
@gamerater yeah but same problem is for liverpool also they are really bad when some one counter attacks from wings if someone takes out vvc in centre and that messi/suarez can do or even couts
I know liverpool is stronger than barca in terms of tactical aspects but liverpool has also got a lot of potential to do mistakes which anyone can exploit with a world class squad
How is it possible that goalless Suarez has a higher avg rating than the highest rated Liverpool player, Mane? LOL something's wrong when a goalless striker has a higher rating than the opposition's star player.
People tend to underestimate the defense of Barca. Many games won by Barca this season were due to there formidable back four plus "the wall" MAtS, especially in the UCL.
Honestly, I won't be surprised if this game ends with a 0-0 or 1-0 scoreline.
@LordOliver Well MATS is better than Alisson, Pique is much better than Matip and Alba is much better than Liverpool's left back but Van Dijk is much better than Lenglet and Semedo is equally as good as Liverpool's RB. All in all, Barca has a better defense but this is a UCL semifinal, anything can and will happen.
I'm a Barca fan and I wouldn't be surprised to see Liverpool dominate us over the two legs. I think I've seen enough Liverpool games to come to the conclusion that Liverpool (at least for this 2nd half of the season) play at a higher level. Liverpool just seems more organized and methodical in how they play. And of course they play at a lightning pace, while also having a good pressing game and the stamina to maintain it for 90 minutes. I'm not confident that Barca can cope with Liverpool's pressing game or with the pace of their attacking football. I hope i'm wrong, though.
I don't really care about care about who goes through because the two teams are quite entertaining to watch. I will go for Liverpool anyway it is much scintillating watching them since last season.
Yes barca is a marvelous team but you can't ignore that liverpool have the mentality of a champion, as seen in their last 2 away matches. This should've been the final bro
@AnIndonesianMale true. They also deserve to go through. Lets hope luck is on barceloNa side. If barca goes tjrough. Liveepool will win a double nxt season: Epl and ucl. most teams should rebuild squad and quesstion their philosopies.
@FLOPessi & @Messibottleda4_1lead Thanks for your contribution to this match preview. Your IDs and the number of comments more than 2 weeks before a Barca match taking a dig at Messi shows which fans are real losers. Good luck in praying Liverpool's win.
If u think about Juventus has bought their biggest flope in years,, knocked out of every competition, and they will win a league title for the 7th is it straight season,, Ronaldo has flopped in Italy
Mr FloPessi and messibottled a 4-1 lead, I'm so happy you are talking trash about Messi, but in any case, on the first of June you are going to be ghosting in the Terraces as the GOAT lifts the trophy.. in any case our 6th ballon d'or has been won already.
100% Barcelona, since Guardiola arrival their knock out statisctics against english teams are 10 mission passed vs 1 mission failed (with 2 final wins)+2 group stage success in 16 vs City and in 19 vs Tottenham..so basically its 12/1...plus Klopp has lost 2 finals against spanish teams so far...
Damn I wish Barca didnt choke the second leg... Messi still the goat tho
Liverpool didn't deserve to lose 3-0. Disappointing. 3-1 Would have given me excitement for next week but now the tie is over.
@richccfc Over, huh? Tell me exactly how did you predict Barcelona's comeback against PSG, Roma's comeback against Barca, Ajax's comeback against Real and United's comeback against PSG? very curious.
@GioMonaldo You was right! amazing
Fun fact: Messi's 1st goal for Barcelona: 1.5.2005, 600th goal for Barcelona: 1.5.2019
its pathetic how some people are criticising messis goal.As if he were to stop nutmeg van dijk and produce some flashes then shoot the ball And tore the net apart. SERIOUSLY .... Its CL and it doesnt always ask for flashes of ur flat muscular belly. Infact ask the who lost this battle
what a match tho
If you want dribbles, ask for Neymar. If you want free kicks, ask for Juninho. If you want goals, ask for Ronaldo. If you want magic, ask for Ronaldinho. If you want everything together ... ask for Messi.
@neumi17 best comment ever
Messi Messi Messi none like him,simply the best.
It's awesome to see two biggest pathetic fans in Barca and Liverpool having war of words. LoL. Keep it up. Talking of the game, Liverpool were dominant but Barca were efficient. 3-0 score doesn't do justice to Liverpool. But I think this tie is forgone conclusion. Hard luck Pool. Barca is not gonna capitulate again like last season. It's not fair having Messi on any side.
Shalom Salah!
It looked sometimes that all the luck that Liverpool had this season in EPL and CL (last minutes goals, penalties saved, decisions from referees, missed chances by opponents) was against them today. They deserved a better result if to be fair, but Barca has this small bearded guy , and he is quite good:) When I was small I listened to my father`s stories about Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Garrincha, Platini. Now I am lucky enough to witness even something and someone even greater for my own stories already
@tar88s I mean if LUCK gets you that far(1 KO stage further than City + only 1 point behind City in the league), then City with that luck is going to win all games throughout the season. Luck cannot happen if the game was prepared a different way, or the opposition prepared differently. So in the end, it's not luck. This game though, Liverpool got outsmarted, out-experienced. People say they deserve a better scoreline, but that's what experience and Messi's quality do, they hurt.
Messi fouled Fabinho and they give free kick haha. He takes not even from correct position.
Can't celebrate this victory too hard bc the Roma disaster is still fresh in my mind but I sure hope Valverde gives proper rest to the main players against Celta.
"Best goalkeeper in the world", say hello to Lionel Messi.
@splint3r Guys, don't you know what " " means? I was mocking Liverpool fans, who say that Alisson is the best. Ter Stegen has been the best for some time now. De Gea is currently sh*t. Oblak is also overhyped, he has good defenders in front of him.
@splint3r Oblak is the best GK. Ppl just refuse to give him props
@k.1 Ter Stegen and Oblak are up there in the first 2 positions of the podium. Depending on taste (or the kind of team/playing style you want), you may find one better than the other. For Barcelona's style, Ter Stegen is no doubt the best. As for Allison and De Gea, they're good keepers but not even close to shose two. De gea can make all the miracle saves he wants, but then he would f-it-up all too often: simply not consistent enough.
@splint3r Pretty sure he says hello to Messi (and all his Barca team mates) when they meet before every training session...
@GioMonaldo Nah, Oblak still plays for Atleti... ;)
@Motorbreath yes, oblak is the best
@Motorbreath I'll take it, gimme MATS as second best then ;)
@GioMonaldo second best os ter stegen IMO
@GioMonaldo Yep. I'd still go for De Gea as tied first with Oblak though, if it wasn't for him being so damn inconsistent for the past couple of seasons...
@Motorbrea A GK is no good if he is not consistent. Ill take Oblack stabilityy 10 games out of 10 over De Geas magical saves.
@k.1 Absolutely. That's why De Gea doesn't even crack the top 5 in my book.
1- Messi was flawless. I seriously have no idea what ppl were talking about. Even in the first half, he was magical, provided many killer passes and destroyed liverpools defense. 2- As i said before this match started, dembele should have started this game. He is the perfect man to exploit liverpools high line as we saw in the latter stages of this game. 3- The ratings do no justice to vidal :( He was a beast IMO. Made some mistakes but he was rutheless in defense and made some very important tackles.
@k.1 In my opinion Dembele would be totally invisible under the Liverpool press in the most part of the game. Besides that, he had 2 very good chances for good shots in the end, especially the last one, but that was smth inexplicable. Anyway 4-0 would be too good for Barca.
@tar88s He has those chances because of his pace... How many did coutinho have?
@k.1 Coutinho was very slow today, true, though he showed his top class few times already, even against MU at home. But Dembele.. the kid definitely has confidence issues. He might be super talented and fast, but so far he doesn`t impress to say at least. In this kind of matches is very unlikely he could have regained his confidence for sure.
@tar88s Yes i agree coutinho is better. I do not like dembele that much to be honest. Nonetheless... I was talking about THIS particular matchup. Dembele is the only one who can outrun Van Dijk. If he is on the field, Liverpool will have to keep their defense a bit lower thus giving messi more operating space or suffer a counter-attacking nightmare.
I'd play Dembele and Coutinho up front VS Celta with Suarez and Messi totally rested....not even on bench. Dembele is second rate and Coutinho is underperforming but they should be good enough to keep the show on the road. Suarez has lots of minutes in his legs and could do with a weekend off and why risk the GOAT in a meaningless fixture?
@iluveverton Dembele lacks confidence. Especially after the coach bring him on in extra time as a time waster sub. He shud have taken his chance and boost his confidence and help him make more important minutes. U don't know shit.
@todobless We may have to disagree here dobless. Dembele is days away from his 22nd birthday. No longer a kid is footballing terms. he has 11 goals in two Liga seasons with Barcelona. 15 if we include Liga and CL. Not always playing of course but has had plenty of game time. The return just isn't there.
@iluveverton well if it was Juup Heynkes than yes he would have given his star players a rest against Celta Vigo. But Vaverde I'm not so sure. Maybe Messi could get a rest but Suraez? Don't think so. They sold Alcacer. They have sold Munir El Hadadi. And for some weird reason Valverde is not sold on Boateng.
Salah's miss is going to haunt them. Even if they win at Anfield, conceding just 1 goal would obligate them to score 5. Who thinks they can do it?
@tkr 3:0 and penalties is possible if things go their way, but 5:1 - no.
@tkr anything is possibld. These guys are good. Anyting is possible
@tkr I think salah will pull a "world cup neymar" next game. He always lets stuff like this go to his head. He will propably try to shoot from acward positions when its better to pass.
@tkr They've certainly done it before, but well... Not against Barca. :D
hahaha Loserpool as usual
1001 comments damn! were was all these barca fans last few seasons
@BSN You probably missed the whole 'show' but the first 700 or so comments were from that troll Flopessi (and his alternate accounts) who lost his mind and spammed endlessly, then the mods deleted all his comments and his fake accounts. Same thing happened in the Spurs game comment section.
@GioMonaldo Not sure I agree with "lost his mind". That implies having one to begin with. :D
@Motorbreath lmfao
@GioMonaldo oh i thought so too but i wasn't sure
If we beat liverpool. Nxt week. Klop will win the treble nxt season
The second leg is gona be harder than this. The noise. Camp mou is vv nice. But english fan are gona shout the loudest there. Klops man are gona go all out.
@nceshNcero guys. This is football. We can win. But the is a percentage of us lossing
@nceshNcero are you high or something? Yes Liverpool has great match atmosphere- no doubt, no doubt about that. But saying that atmosphere in anfield is going to be louder than 98,299 at nou camp is utterly mindbogglingly asinine. Barca had more attendance on this day than Borussia Dortmund which on average have the highest in the entire Europe.
@Ffaris AND furthermore, he claims 'Pool will turn this result around, by [stressed out] 'english' fans' noise (alone, it seems). SO YES, he's high on some chems I'd say.
Messi's 5th perfect 10.0 in 9 UCL matches this season. GOAT.
@MrNemobody He scored 46% of all Barcas goals in CL this season
@MrNemobody "Messi disappears in big games hahaha....... oh.."
@emadx Well, this one is really old... no-one has been that stupid to put it like that at least over recent 5-6 years. the bestest still remains ''national flop'', less stupid by the way.
@emadx "In big games" is does not necessarily imply "in ALL big games". I'd say he goes missing in big games often enough, when the result goes against them. That is, in my opinion, the biggest difference between him and Ronaldo. When things go against Messi, half the time he pouts and whines. When things go against Ronaldo, he gets pissed off, picks himself up and tries harder. ON AVERAGE, of course.
@Motorbreath U are forgettig he fact that when ronaldo does NOT show up. His old real madrid team-mates step up their game. Do not make me count every important game (especialy finals) that ronaldo has gone invisible. On the other hand, Benzema, Bale and Ramos have out of this world stats and performances in big games. When messi does not show up in a big game, barca are usualy eliminated...
@Motorbreath you're a very reasonable and deep thinking person. And of all your response shows that. It's just that Messi and Ronaldo comparison you just made that compelled me to respond. But I beg to differ. Even if Messi doesn't score he is still contributing. He is Baggio-style trequartista who scores a lot of goals. Ppl like Riquelme,Veron, Baggio and Zidane even if they didn't scored lot of goals still contributed to the match. Now Ronaldo used to be super decent winger who scored a lot of goals and assist. Now he is more or less of a striker who scores and assist a lot of goals. Saying that say Ronaldo tries harder and Messi doesn't is not valid. Because they both try harder if things goes against them-they are professional footballers. If you saying that Messi doesn't track back than you could say the same for Ronaldo too. But both of tracking back would diminish their attacking output. And yes both Ronaldo and Messi are awesome.
@Ffaris I agree with you on all those points. I should've been more specific though. The specific "try harder" detail I was referring to is the mental aspect. When things go against Messi he definitely tries harder, but in a "Shit, I must put in a better shift 'cause these guys are clobbering us!" kind of way. With Ronaldo it's more like "WHAT? How dare you mere mortals have the audacity to think you're better than me and my team? Let me show you back to your place!" The best example of that is to look at them both playing for their respective national teams. Portugal have good players, but nowhere near as good as Argentina. Yet Ronaldo will often inspire great team performances for his national side through pure grit and stubbornness, while Messi is more likely to demoralize his, when things go against them.
@Motorbreath I said you had no clue because you think having some great strikers make Argentina better than Portugal. Did you know Portugal won the Euro final against France without Ronaldo? Portugal has a much better all around team. During the Messi era, Argentina had shit GK, shit defense and shit midfield with aging players or no creativity or midfield control. Yet, they reached the final of 3 major tournaments. If they had Riquelme or a Kante or a Vidal between 2010-2018, Messi & Argentina would have won more than 3 major trophies.
@Motorbreath I'm sorry to say but you have no clue. Ronaldo has gone missing in big games much more than Messi. But the only difference is his team mates have stepped big time. In Ronaldo's case, he was the beneficiary more than his team mates. However, in case of Messi, his team mates are the beneficiary more than him. Ronaldo's a monster goal scorer and does posses an awesome winning mentality. But when he doesn't wear his shooting boots, becomes a liability unless he gives assists. He is not good at play making like Messi. Benzema during Ronaldo's Real era probably played the most selfless game a footballer has ever played. He just played for Ronaldo. There were many games where Ramos' thumping headers won them the game or brought them back in the game in the final moments. While Bale's over all score count is nowhere near to Ronaldo's, his important goals count (in cup semis & finals) is as good as Ronaldo's.
@Motorbreath Ah yes than I agree. Ronaldo is a leader. Whose fiery and passionate attitude and self-belief inspire his teammates and turns game around. Yeah Ronaldo underrated leadership qualities very similar to Lothar Matthaus or Karl-Heinz Rummeniege. Although I dont' have the honor of seeing Matthuas in action but I have research alot about him. And Ronaldo fiery persona and ability to inspire others is very similar to that great man (Matthaus). It is bit unfortunate that Ronaldo leadership qualities are not discussed much.
@Ffaris I was just searching for a particular comment and end up reading this. You'll see, I happen to work at the sports' section on a casino, so I end up watching a lot of games from different sports even if I don't want to, mostly matches of big teams, like Madrid and Barcelona. I'm particularly interested in la liga since spanish is my first language, so I check its games with more attention. Long story short, I have a hard time figuring what could you identify as "leadership qualities" in Cristiano Ronaldo. He is very, very competitive, no doubt about that- alwayd do his best and expects his team to do the same, however screaming at them, trying to score by himself even when his teammates are in a better position, blaming his teammates when they lose, taking the free kicks when he isn't good at it anymore... that isn't leadership. He is way too selfish to be called a leader. Perhaps his "leadership qualities aren't discussed much because you're imagining them?
Barca delivered and saved humanity. Still have to go to Anfield were it will be tough. Wish them the best. Now its time for Man City to also step up to the plate and finish the job .
@excalibur I couldn't agree more. You are a gentleman of refined and educated opinion.
@iluveverton LOL
what I said a few days ago, just wait and see if Messi or Salah... The GOAT show was wonderfull again :))) Baloon D'or winner is already known................................
@turgaycelik27 LOL. The 2 are not even comparable. Salah is good but hebis nowhere messis level. Being a goal poacher does not make u the best in the world (unless u score twice the ammount of goals). Hazzard, Neymar and Mbappe are all above Salah and by no small margin IMO.
Messi is the god of football. Period.
@emadx but.. but Penaldo took on a new challenge, clearly he deserves 3 Ballons d'Or for that.
This match was very balanced. Draw was a fair result, we could even see Liverpool turn it around, but with that 2nd goal, which was illegal, since a Liverpool player was pushed, it made a big impact on Liverpool player's mentality and they kinda gave up, still they could have scored and leave everything open to the second leg. Now, it will be very hard...
@hellreaper Now say that without crying.
@hellreaper MARC Andre-Ter-ste-gen.........It's not balanced when you have this keeper in between the posts. It's a cheat code. Messi and Ter Stegen are the most important players in Barcelona. Milner threw away. Dembele threw away. Game was open but Barcelona took their chances.
@hellreaper Nah, that second goal was borderline at best, but I'd say more fair and square than borderline. And it wasn't that one that shot Liverpool's morale, it was the third. Although I wouldn't say they gave up even after that one. Alisson should've definitely positioned himself better though... :/
maybe dembele should stop playing fortnite until 5 AM, what the hell was that
@Lulzovich That, was why he's a sub. I just can't believe Barca spent 300M or so on 2 players who play the same position. To be fair, maybe if he was subbed in 20 minutes earlier he wouldn't be so fresh and would have put it in. Players need 10min or so to get into the game and to miss your first shot like he did was somewhat predictable.
@tkr I think that malcolm will be the surprise player who steps up and fills the spot next season. Well... that is unless they sell him.
Messi is scoring goals at a faster rate than Ronaldo (will most likely overtake him soon) ,assists more than Ronaldo (actually has more career assists in fewer games), creates way more chances than Ronaldo (Messi almost always top of the pile for key passes), dribbles much better than Ronaldo (therefore creates spaces for teammates and can destabilize an entire defense on his own). Messi is a far more dangerous offensive weapon and a much better player. Don't let the fact that they both have 5 golden balls cloud your judgement.. Messi has better numbers, is better with eye test and dominates games with his unmatchable talent. I think only people with a mental illness or a weird affiliation to Ronaldo think he's as good. Messi has been the best player in the world since 2009. It's between Pele and Messi just in terms of share numbers , goals/assists, influence and dominance of a game. And I go with Leo. He's better than Pele.
@excalibur every time messi does something good u have to compare him to Ronaldo? CR7 is the measuring stick for GOAT now? wdf.........give it a rest. Messi is the most complete(assists, goals,dribbles, key-passes) Ronaldo is a great finisher.
@excalibur Totally agree Excalibur. On virtually every comparable offensive stat Messi is measurably superior. Throughout his career he participates in a goal every 70 mins. It is 85mins for CR7. Huge difference. CR7 has had a superb career but Messi is unarguably superior....key passes, dribbles, goals, assists, chances created, chances converted, etc etc all tell the same story. Player of the tournament at the World Cup, World Youth Cup and Copa America - CR7 has no such awards - suggest he doesn't bottle either
@excalibur And i will go for Maradona cos he cared evry team he played in,and outside barcelona messi is a bottler
@svetoslav how Messi is a bottler??? Messi should play for other team is a outdated argument
@batamerah Maradona cared barca in laliga ,napoli in seria a, and argentina to 2 world cups and in argentina he hadnoone to play whit.Messi on d other hand messi started in Barca when they alredy was best in the world whit ronaldinho anry xavi iniesta poyol,and lest just face it barca played a lot beter football back then.Tonight they played very ugly game,timewasting all d time soarez and co weavin their hands at reffs way too much and yes tanks to messi and liverpool been unable to convert their chances barcelona won.And do i realy have to tell you why he is bottler in argentina???
The superior team won, nothing more. Refs robbed Barca of penalty after a clear and deliberate handball by Matip in the first half, so this is a great result against a 12 man team. Second leg will be tough but Barca players will be more rested so clear advantage for the visitors. Vamos Barca! go home scousers.
@GioMonaldo "Clear and deliberate handball"? Drugs are bad, mkay?
@Motorbreath Just hope you need new glasses bc you can't buy a brain, mkay?
@Motorbreath I like that the referee had no tolerance for penalty-begging and let play go on almost every time. He also could have given a penalty for Pique's roughness a few minutes earlier, but if he gave Barca a break he would give Liverpool a break too. The handball wasn't intentional either, it was by his side and the ball just so happened to go there.
@tkr Funny thing about that one is... Mané would've gotten the pen, had he stayed down instead of being stubborn and keeping the ball in play. Even if the ref wouldn't have awarded it right away, there would've been a VAR review which would've ultimately resulted in a penalty kick. Even if he had helped with a dive á la Salah against Cardiff, as Piqué had clearly fouled him. He got the free kick in the other two situations, when he went down way easier.
@GioMonaldo Less of the "go home scousers" Gio. The Scousers ARE at home hoping Liverpool lose. Meanwhile the Norwegians and Irish are crying into their beer while the Evertonian Scouse nation cheer with Messi and Suarez........Forza Barca. Do it for Everton.
@iluveverton ahhh interesting. A native of England would have no sympathy for English teams. Especially their derby rivals.I would have sorta expected that response. So glad you're on Barca team. But @Champion has some weird boner for all English team. Why? It doesn't even happen in Europe, Americas and the entire freaking world. Would Boca supporter cheer on Riveer Plate to win the Copa America?
@iluveverton Forza Everton then! :)
@GioMonaldo Good lad. You'll do.
Well Barcelona really have made Liverpool eat a bige piece of humble pie. That was despite Micael Owens bold predictions. Still think Liverpool is gonna make a comeback. As Roma was easily able to overturn the deficit. Liverpool is right now the best team in England. Pretty sure they can easily overturn the tie. But anyways I'm glad Messi of scoring against the team he never scored against. So it's kinda of nifty record for the little magician.
@Ffaris If Liverpool are the best team in England, why would they be 2nd now? Also only 1 point against their main rival in 2 matches this season and the only loss too by the way.
@Ffaris Not sure about the humble pie, to be honest. Certainly none of the players nor the manager claimed anything other than that it's a tough as shit tie. They did say that they believe in themselves and think they have a chance, but aside from some pundits and rabidly optimistic fans, no one stuck their neck out claiming they were gonna beat Barcelona senseless. And I'd say there aren't many people out there, including many not-too-subjective Barca fans, who wouldn't agree that the scoreline doesn't really reflect how Liverpool played. The only thing they can be accused of is wasting their scoring chances, because other than that they did a pretty decent job. But then again "pretty decent" is not good enough with Messi playing against you...
There's no excuse for Dembele to fail so hard with that shot at the end. I just don't trust him to perform well in high stake matches like these. Coutinho has been mediocre for Barca, but I don't think he would mess up as bad as Dembele did tonight.
@Pico09 Dembele is not good enough to inherit from Messi or Suarez. He just isn't good enough.
@iluveverton No one really is, but Dembele was blessed with such amazing gifts by the football gods and he's completely wasting those gifts.
@GioMonaldo His speed makes him a great 60th minute sub or so, to fix whoever isn't having a great game. He's a great player to have on your team but he's got to be mentally prepared to perform. This game should have been 5-1 but he wasn't there.
@tkr Yes! you get it! it's his mindset that's his only real problem. His acceleration is out of this world, he needs to focus and start putting it to good use.
Harsh on Liverpool and one could be forgiven for thinking they deserved at least one goal. But goals are not deserved, goals are scored. Barca were clinical with their chances and Liverpool weren't, fair play to them. There's still a chance of them turning this on its head at Anfield, but they sure as hell have their work cut out for them.
@Motorbreath Barca weren't all that clinical with their chances, their last two wasted counters are painful proof of that.
@GioMonaldo They scored 3 from 5 shots on target, so 60%. I'd say that's plenty clinical at this level. Liverpool scored 0 from 4 shots on target. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that 0% is quite a fucking bit less than 60%... :D
@Motorbreath Why count only shots on target? To be clinical means to be effective with all your chances, not just the shots on target.
@GioMonaldo Yes and no. There is a good reason why "shots on target" is a better metric to look at than "total shots". See, if a full-back slices a cross and it goes sideways, resulting in a goal kick rather than a potential assist, it counts as a shot. If a throw-in fizzles past everyone and out for a goal kick, it counts as a shot. But hitting the post or the crossbar counts as a shot on target. As does shooting the ball straight at the keeper or hitting a defender on the goal line. "Clinical" means putting the ball behind them and into the back of the net. Taking a long shot from 30 yards out, which almost brings down a plane flying at low altitude, doesn't really affect clinicality no matter how you put it. It's a wasted chance, sure, but it's not "unclinical".
Messi should share the MoTM award with Ter Stegen. Both of them were top class today.
@MrNemobody And give some of that to Rakitic too... That goal-line clearance could end up making all the difference.
@MrNemobody Ter Stegen had only 3 saves in the entire match. I think this is not enough to share the award ...
@neumi17 Crazy statistic, only 3 saves is true, but the value was in his presence this game. Always there, facilitated the transitions very well, flawless game for him. Exactly what anybody would expect from their GK, you couldn't ask for more.
@neumi17 It's not the amount of saves that counts, it's their importance. Milner should arguably have done better with his shot, but the other two he made weren't as easy. Clean sheet, fair play to him.
@neumi17 Not for the quantity, but for the importance of them (they weren't easy saves).
@MrNemobody One of them was... :D Hell, he probably wouldn't have had time to jump out of the way even if he tried to! Even I could've stopped that shot, all I would've had to do was just stand there. Not spilling it is a whole different story though... :D
Messi doesn't score often against Liverpool but when he does, he makes it special. Congratulations Messi on 600 club goals. Let's get that Treble! Visca Barca!
@GioMonaldo What do you mean he doesn't score often against Liverpool? He's only played against Liverpool 3 times
@groovy Not scoring in two out of three games against Liverpool is pretty much the definition of "not scoring often" against them... :D
@groovy It all adds up, this was the third time he played against them, he didn't score in his first 2 matches against them.
Those who complain about barca's possession stat and attacking game, wait till the away match at Anfield.
Firmino should have started big fail from Klopp.
@Champion which team do you really support? It seems like you're supporting every English out there. Either you home team sucks. Or you are non-native resident to England. Because North of England can't stand south of England. Liverpulidan won't stand Evertonian or manchester united fan. Spurs won't stand Chelsea or Arsenal fans. But you are sort of peculiar peculiar exception of the rule. Heck even in Germany Borussia fans have huge dislike Schalke team.
@Ffaris Why do you care? I am not a child like most fans, I am a fan of football. My team isn't in the Champions League, doesn't mean I can't enjoy seeing tactical battles between different teams. Your comment about north/south teams etc is childish and pointless. Most football fans are immature, many young and many never grown up. I am a mature person that can maintain a balanced view always.
@Champion Honestly don't care about you mate. But what I do care is a resident of England and supporting every EPL club like a hustler really got me curious. Becuase it's weird, out of place illogical and doesn't make sense. "Most football fans are immature, many young and many never grown up. I am a mature person that can maintain a balanced view always." Wow did you just called 55.62 million population of England, 741.4 population of europe and 422.5 million population of South America as immature and childish? Jesus are you sure you're projecting your own on others? Listen mate resorting self-praise like won't convince anyone of your balanced view and maturity. So seriously why do you support the entire EPL team. Yeah Africans and Asians and Arabs are allowed to do that. Because they have no local stake any EPL team. But your mature personality and balanced views really stuck me as odd. Really odd.
@Champion Love it when fans enjoy great football, no matter the team they support. That's true love for the game!
Fun Fact: Messi's goals in semifinals always were scored after the 75' minute. And the second always after 80' minutes.
But... but Van Dijk. Treble loading...
@GioMonaldo He still hasn't been dribbled... Not that it counts for anything after the final whistle, but just sayin'.
@Motorbreath Gnabry outdribbled him big time before he scored ...
@neumi17 Nope, he didn't. He dribbled to the side of him, before shooting past him. Not the same as dribbling PAST him. Check out the match stats: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1341370/Live/International-European-Championship-2019-Netherlands-Germany
@Motorbreath Well, I saw the match and it was shure a dribble. Gnabry was at the far left corner and van Dijk was in his way to shoot. If you get by a defender you always have to choose a side. Gnabry went by on the right hand side, had some space and van dijk couldn`t prevent him from scoring. That is a perfekt dribbling like Messi does it in every game. Gnabry had to get by van Dijk in order to shoot, which he did ...
@neumi17 I saw the match too, and I do agree that it was borderline. But apparently the way he did it does not meet the criteria of being "dribbled past". Pretty sure Messi doesn't get all those dribbles counted towards his totals either. Again, borderline.
@Motorbreath congrats for winning 'Van Dijk hasn't been dribbled' award. I'm only enjoying my team's victory :D
@GioMonaldo As you should, congrats! Again, just sayin', as it means fuck all when it comes to the end result.
Barca statistician to Messi: "Liverpool is the only English team that you have not scored against yet.." Messi: "Ok"
Messi: "Hold my beer".
Very important win for Barca with a clean shield, very nice goal by Suarez, and 2 goals by Messi .... Not Messi´s day but 2 goals and magic dribbling skill.... Messi is GOAT and MOTM as always .... UCL final loading. ... Treble loading .... 6th Ballon d´Or loading ... But Liverpool was better with tons of big chances, but 3-0 for BARCA!
@JimmyHopkins Liverpool played well. But they were certainly not better. If so, they would have atleast scored a couple of away goals..
@Akhthar Nah, the game swung back and forth and Liverpool were definitely better at times. But how well you play means nothing, it's how well you score that counts.
"Liverpool will win this tie. I'm sorry but Messi always crumbles against pressure and without xavi + iniesta feeding him all those balls on a silver platter - it's simply not going to happen. I won't be here to say I told you so." -Bottlejob007 I hope you are still here to see how stupud you can get.
@mystic34x pretty sure he cried himself to sleep a long time ago LOL
Congrats Messi for 600 goals.
@Kentzz001 But But But Messi has 683 matches and 600 goals and Ronaldo has 801 matches and 600 goals! Ronaldo is better..... Ronaldo fankids logic :-D
@Kentzz001 nerf pls
Where are those cowards who said Messi was non-existent and he was having a shit game at half time.. Lol.. Messi haters expect Messi magic in each gane than his fans.. And he gives them almost always.. That's what makes him the GOAT..
3-0 and Messi man of the match. "Just as I envisaged!" -Void, Dota 2.
Shout out to Ter Stegen who kept barca in the game with some fine saves in the second half.
I just say this: there is no way someone that watched this match can say Barcelona is a fair winner. Of course they were more clinical, but they play at home at a terrible form, get scholed in their own possession style and manage to get away with a 3-0 in the first leg. Reminds me of that Barça-Real that was pretty much the same way, with the same game result. Messi and Suarez are the game changers here. And, once again, i love Messi, but there's no way he gets 9.8. He didn't play for more than half of the game and just because of the freekick (awesome) it doesn't mean that his game was nearly flawless.
@HPereira You said it yourself: "Messi and Suarez are the game changers". They scored THREE GOALS from fewers chances, whilst Liverpoll's attack could hit goal only 4 times in 15 shots, and evebn in those 4 times they couldn't beat that man-mountain Ter Stegen (another game changer)
@HPereira you overrate Pool‘s chances. I just rewatched them and I remembered them as much better chances than they are
@HPereira possession is irrelevant , football has always been about goals
@HPereira do you live in a room with padded walls? because you are as crazy as it gets sir. don't forget your medication
@HPereira its football and barcelona were more clutch. cant do anything about it
@HPereira You know nothing about football. Barca didn't want to give an away goal to Liverpool. They scored 3 good goals. Go and get a good sleep.. You'll be alright..
442 really help. He put in lot of good midds
Dembele should have scored. Shucks. He should have scored. We needed that goal
@nceshNcero Dembele is just a fast player, he is not good enough to play in top teams.
@nceshNcero He is sub for a reason.....he is not good enough.
Worst fail ever by Dembele ! What a loser ...
@neumi17 like Salah? :D
Messi is nothing without Xavi and Iniesta. Haahhahahahhhhaahhahhahahahahhahhhaha
@Davisson yeah clearly nothing, even Bendtner is better.. and tin foil hats are cheap it seems
@Davisson Next season by the same penaldians: Messi is nothing without Semedo, mark my words.
Messi tonight best performance in a match I've ever seen..
@ustat777 You haven`t seen many games ten ...
@ustat777 If you look only at his performances against English clubs you can find at least 2 better than this (Actually you need only to take his matches vs. Arsenal, to be honest).
@ustat777, vs Bayern in 2015 is the best.
@Davisson True. I’ve never seen him play better.
@ustat777 You watch too less less of him.. This is probably his 150th best performance..
@ustat777 Great performance no doubt, but I think we've seen him play better
@groovy Yeah but this is a semi final. Besides his goals and amazing dribbles, he created many scoring chances for his teammates including last minute miss from Dembele. But still you might be right, I didn't watch every game
At least Klopp doesn't finish second again ...
Can Klopp explain why Firmino does not start every game. We all know that Mané and Salah are way more hyped(rightly so), but Firmino brings the creativity, which is necessary for Liverpool's game. What a horrible game from Mané too.
@MUATSCINMA because they are playing against Messi & Barcelona. You can't expect a Liverpool game like you see against PL sides. Klopp got his tactics right, it's just that his forwards were not clinical, Barca put in a good defensive performance and Messi & Suarez were great..
@MUATSCINMA like.....he was injured and not ready for 90mins
@Delmin If it’s not tactical then why didn’t an attacker like Origi or Shaqiri start instead
Well, it's just not meant to be for Liverpool :/
@HPereira Aww don't be sad, this was a great victory for Spanish football. The UCL belongs in Spain.
Semi finals and Messi shows up big time . 2 spectacular goals and an insane number of successful dribbles. Salah was great too but he just hits the post, that's the difference.
@neumi17 Hope you were able to locate Messi in the second half (as you had mistaken in the first half.. lol) But I appreciate your willingness to applaud Barca & Messi despite being a hater..
@Akhthar I am pretty shure you don`t really understand the term " hater "... I judge players by what they deliver on the pitch, not by what their names are. First half Salah was much more active and better ( as the stats easily showed ) but second half Messi made the difference again. So whats your problem, is a player always great just because you like him ? Criticism is no hate. If my team sucks and plays badly I acknowledge that the opponent is better and deserves the win ...
@neumi17 The MOTM in the decisive second leg V Lyon. MOTM in the decisive second leg V Manchester Utd. Now MOTM in what is probably the decisive match V Liverpool. Throw in 34 Liga goals and a 10th Liga medal plus a Copa final .....................Nailed on certainty for the Ballon d'Or.
Even Klopp smiled ...
@jesper I don´t think it was a genuine smile
@jesper Fair play to him. Fact is we are in the presence of footballing genius. You cannot legislate for it or control it. If the little master is on song there is nothing to be done.
The kings of losing
SSSISISISISIUUUUJUUUUIUIUUUUUU OMGGGGGGGGG
2nd easy tapin goal by Messi FLOP....
@JimmyHopkins don't stop using ice on your a** hater....lol
Now it can go either way, 4-0 Barca or 2-1 ...
When is that guy Messi going to stop ghosting........ohh hang on.
@iluveverton but but Van Dijk won some award...
Easy tapin goal by Messi FLOP.....
@JimmyHopkins lots of new ones here i guess. They don't get your sarcasm
@JimmyHopkins go get a life.. hahaha... (Hope you didn't bang your head when you saw that majestic free-kick)
@JimmyHopkins use an ice bag on your a** hater...
Barca looks a bit like Atletico ...
@neumi17 that's because they know that preventing a Liverpool goals is more valuable than scoring two themselves and unlike Atleti they know they will get their chances to score one or two. I think Barca will attack more at Anfield to get an away goal and after that, they will stay compact.
Barcelona's secret recipe is the theatrics and dark arts of the game.
Pool will get back in this, barca seem tired
@flephmang but ... but I thought Barca haven't got a hope in hell! how's the crow taste?
@flephmang They don't have to come back since they were never gone. They just don't get many chances and the ones they do they waste.
If fools don’t score , it’s nearly over for them. Yes they can score in anfield but they will find it hard keeping Barca at bay in counter attack.
Really good game by Salah so far. The best I have seen him in a while ...
@neumi17 yup, I was thinking the same
Both teams have played well so far.. Good tactical and technical game.. worthy for a semi final.. Second half will be more interesting.
@Akhthar Very true
Barca's defense has impressed me.
Messi holding a invizible yellow card in one hand and a ballon d'or in the other
@alxdru invisible
I don't understand this pontuations. I'm a big Messi fan, but he's just not playing this game at all and he gets 7.2??? Also, when you compare the Liverpool first half you just can't say their average is 6.26 compared with Barcelona's 6.94. Unfair score at half time, as i think the draw was more appropriate. But Suarez is a beast.
@HPereira Barca got a chance, they buried. Liverpool got a chance, they didn't bury it. So Barca is expectedly .7 ahead of Liverpool. You should have told Suarez miss it as it would be an injustice if he scored it. Regarding the rating, it's stats based. Just look at the stats a bit more thoroughly and you will understand it. Did you see one move which Messi started from the right side in his half? The match has been almost even and the Suarez goal from Alba pass is the difference. But I see Barca growing into the game. Second half will be more interesting..
Liverpool plays very brave but Mane is off tonight.
easy money for under 3.5 after match is 1-0
Tottenham reloaded ! Cross after cross into nothing.
I expect a lot more goals here tonight ...
Van Dijk who?
@xavistu champions league finalist 2019 ahahhaha
@xavistu I'm surprised Messi didn't try to dribble past him, he's taking far too much time. It's the same tactic other teams use: Avoid van dijk, concentrate on his teammates.
@xavistu Virgil
Great goal !
Messi is really good in the first 20 minutes exept that his name is Salah for some reason ...
@neumi17 They are both playing great, what are you on about?
@Dreiden he's just trying hard as usual..
@Dreiden Salah was the all dominant player in the first 20 minutes.
@neumi17 LULLLLLLLLLLULULULULULLLL
Intense game ...
Dang it klopp what are you doing!!
11 goals for Pool in the last 3 games (all tournaments), 4 goals for Barca. Not just based on that, but overall; I kinda see Barcelona as the underdog in the semis for the first time since like early 2000's
@Fromhell I don't considering their away from home performances ...
I would be shocked if Liverpool didn't keep a clean-sheet at Camp Nou. This is obviously a Liverpool 1-0 away win.
@SeuneMilmas are you shocked yet?
@SeuneMilmas well , off u go to shock world
@SeuneMilmas I would be shocked if your prediction isn't wrong.
Easy win for Barca.
My guess 0-1 or 1-1 probably first half score board shows 0-1 and full time 1-1 or same as first half
i've been heared that Smalling shared his secret with liverpool on how to stop messi
Dembele HAS to start. Liverpool plays a very high line of defense + theyre fullbacks are deadly if not pressured and he is the most equiped to punish them in transition. Lets see if valverde addapts his formation based on the opposition or he just coppy pastes his recent starting 11
hard to predict and i love both club, i'll go with whoscored 2-1
If you've followed Barcelona, you'll see they've been pretty shaky, especially defensively, at times. If Liverpool manage to contain Messi, and Klopp if any coach knows how to he does, that should be a game set match for Liverpool.
suarez to shine today, messi i don't know he sometimes disappear in UCL lately these past 3 seasons, salah will be angry with mane selfishness
@BSN he does not disappear. All the coaches dnt wanf him with the ball. So 1 against 5 is not easy.
@BSN what are you talking about? Suarez scored 0 goals in UCL this season and 4 goals in 27 matches of last 3 UCL seasons LOL, if in this Barca was one more player who performs in Messis level constantly Barca would win every UCL
Liverpool had a great shot at finally winning EPL again after 29 years and now they will most likely lose by 1 point. They'll be mad as hell; Messi to ghost. Liverpool 2-1
@alx30 good prediction, now gtfo
@alx30 3-1
It's crazy to see how people are underestimating Liverpool.
Messi Vs Liverpool, Messi 2 Liverpool 0
Barca should dominate possession but they are vulnerable to Liverpool’s counter-attack and the pace of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah can cause plenty of problems.
Barcelona 3-1 Liverpool barca will be too much for Liverpool
WhoScored counter is broken. No way there's 773 comments here already.
@MrNemobody someone spammed the comments here and on yesterday's game but theyve all been deleted now
@1andonlydude Ohh! I guessed it, but WS used to leave a "deleted comment" message, which wasn't very helpful. Much better now, then.
Virgil van Dijk says he has a plan to stop Messi :)
@nexus747 I would be shocked if Liverpool didn't keep a clean-sheet at Camp Nou. This is obviously a Liverpool 1-0 away win.
The level of arrogance n ignorance from both sides shock me
@Lapulga Agree, I don't get sports culture either apparently. To be "cultured within sports" and "to be IGNORANT" are two different things to me. Maybe I need a shrink (?) I never seem to feel the need for biggots
@Lapulga It's a tribal sport... ;)
Barca will destroy Liverpool in CL. First leg would be a tight match though as both team will aim not to concede goals to be first priority. 1:0 / 2:1 would be appropriate
Both teams likely to go defensive in 1st leg less than 3.5 goals
Liverpool have never lost at Barca and have actually beaten them. Draw tonight - tight 2nd leg. Liverpool will need an away goal.
@eastend1 so will Liverpool use all those players from 2007?
@eastend1 do you mean “never” in 2019? Lmao
@ambrose liverpool never lose in camp nou in fact they won twice there
Lol barca haven't got a hope in hell. If this was second leg I'd say 4-1 Liverpool but I'll go 2-1 Liverpool
Put all your money on 4-2 score prediction for home team. Thank me later guys
Klopp won't start Keita in crunch match.
Liverpool will have to impress a lot here to get a good outcome for the home game. I don´t think they´ll leave this game without scoring goal(s) or die trying. I have a feeling the goat might have a good day too, so btts. Ajax - Liverpool finalists
@Fromhell I would be shocked if Barca could score tonight. This is obviously a very predictable Liverpool 1-0 win at Camp Nou.
@SeuneMilmas yeah, time to retire from predicting, dude. You had a good run.
Klopp knows liverpool need to score at Camp Nou no matter what, btts and over
Leg 1: 3-1 for Barca. Leg 2: 1-1
Whoever wins this wins the champions league, this really is the final in disguise.
@swagio you really a disgrace in soccer fan
@swagio Why's that? I don't get the underestimation that especially Ajax get... Still. After playing quite strong in the CL all season and eliminating teams like Real, Juve and now quite possibly Spurs.
@specter I'm not underestimating Ajax, they are a very good side. The teams they've beaten though have been misfiring to say the least. RM have obviously turned to cack this season without cr7; meanwhile Juve seemed to expect him to just deliver them the CL. Spurs are decent but are still miles off the pace of city and liverpool in the league. I don't want to disrespect Ajax as they've done something pretty incredible in most likely making it to the final; It just reminds me a little too much of Croatia in the WC.I could easily be wrong but I expect the winner of this to lift the title.
I'm sure Klopp would take a 2-1 loss knowing how brutal Liverpool can be at Anfield when they are on song. 2-1 Barca sounds about right.
@SteveHyland If that's how it ends after the final wistle, I'm sure he will. But if it's one thing I've learned about him and the team he's built... He's not going to Nou Camp to lose!
@Motorbreath- For sure, I just hope for his sake that he doesn't go gung-ho from a good position and end up in a worse one. I'm rarely of the opinion that teams should sit back from the start but if Liverpool find themselves something like 3-2 down after 80 minutes then they should shut up shop rather than aim to draw 3-3 and concede on the counter.
700 Comments still the game hasnt started. Whats going on
@groovy BAN SPAM spewing troll account pls?
@groovy- There was a lot of (now deleted) spam by a couple of trolls. Those comments have since been deleted but the total number listed on the home page has remained what it would have been with said comments included.
Last draw for Barcelona at Camp Nou was on February 6th. Time for another draw, my guess is 1-1.
Real Madrid, Psg, Juventus, Manchester Utd fans= Liverpool fans. Barcelona only one .
@Avi143 , if you have been watching football for long, you would know by now that Man Utd fans never support Liverpool and vice versa
@footballover Sure they do, whenever it's tactical to do so. Couldn't have been many Liverpool supporters hoping that City clobbered United last week... :D
This match will have special significance to Coutinho and Luis Suarez, who both signed for Barcelona from Luis Suarez. :))
Firmino will have a late fitness test in barcelona.
@nexus747 finger crossed he is fit they need him to press busquets and have any chance in the game
3-1
1-1
Liverpool tactics makes the players look realy good. To a point you the bayern that beat us in 2013. They are fit and can prsss well. Like bayern. They pressed us really well.
Barcelona is very special in Camp Nou. Once they score the first goal in there, they tend to score and create more and Liverpool really needs to watch how they react once they concede otherwise they'll have a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Draw but Liverpool must score away to progress
2:0 Liverpool will concede possession here. Game will be won in midfield. Busquets, Rakitic and Arthur will school Liverpool’s midfield. Messi Suarez and Coutinho is hard to contain them at Camp Nou. Liverpool’s problem is they play only one type of football. Barcelona are so experienced at this level they will control the match!
@albgunn "Liverpool’s problem is they play only one type of football." Unlike Barcelona, who also play only one type of football... :D In fact, much more so than Liverpool do. Unless Messi's not on the pitch, of course. Then they play their second type of football. :D
@Motorbreath delusion is after all a mental illness. If you know football you should not be biased. Barcelona at Camp Nou boasts worlds best players and thats how they been operating for a while! EPL has been overrated for so many years now. What I saw this evening was Liverpool had XI donkeys on the pitch. Barcelona has. I World Class players! Learn to embrace the best and be humble! Liverpool will have a top 4 finish by the end of the season. Their players are no better and serial loser Flopp should learn that football is about ability and not chance!
@albgunn If you think that Liverpool is only capable of playing one type of football, youre not the right person to make a prediction for this game
@adrian.k hello my friend. How did it go?? Haha
Im going with a 2-1 barca here, well rested barca team at camp nou with the record they have here surely can win this, it will be very tricky at anfield tho, I'd say 1-1 draw there, if the messiah wouldn't have promised to bring ucl home I would think liverpool were favorites with this seasons performances, but the lion is hungry for this trophy and that means game over for liverpool if he's in the mood which he will be
Liverpool lost all 3 of their away group matches against P$G, Napoli and Red Star. If we can't beat them with our well rested super team, then we don't deserve the UCL. I repeat, Red fkn Star beat Liverpool by 2 goals!
Especially for countinho. Leaving liverpool to go to a lesser team if barcelona loose. Lots at stake for barcelona than for liverpool. Eish. I really pray that barcellna player bee at their level best. Coz it will be very embarrasing.
@nceshNcero Coutinho already won more trophies in 1.5 seasons at Barca than Liverpool have in the last 10 year. Even if he doesn't win the UCL, he's still playing at a far bigger club.
@GioMonaldo ...for now. :D
It will be very embarrassing for barcelona than for liverpool to lose the tie. Given that they can now fully focuse on this tie. Prepare tactics well.
I think firminho is out for this game
@k.1 Firmino participated in todays training session, he will play tomorrow
@adrian.k he had a "small" muscle tear... its still a TEAR. If liverpool are foolish enough to play him, he well not be on his 100% and risks the chance of re-injury
Messi is gonna shine against Liverpool 3-1
No one is favourite for this draw ... VAR probably the most important thing here
@Djey its so true. But i really wish barcelona gets through. They have done really well in then group stages up until now. This could be barcelonas last chance before they rebuild the old squad
@nceshNcero 1st leg 2-0 will be enough for Barcelona other than that will be dangerous
clear draw
@TohnainoAmigo hopefully not at the nou camp
biggest game this season in all competition
Thats one dedicated hater down there
@BarcaPlsLetMeDown he/she/apache helicopter need to get help
@BarcaPlsLetMeDown I can't understand how these people have so much time on their hands to spend that much time trolling other people/players. I mean they must really have sad lives tbh
@sonja Take a good look around you. Sad lives is exactly what most people have nowadays, despite being significantly better off (on average) than people from only 3-4 generations ago.
draw
What is with all the deleted comments? Have these people nothing else to be doing in their life? Just enjoy the moment and lets see who comes out on top. Hopefully Messi gets a brace and Barca win 3-1 so one of the GOAT gets another chance to win the most prestigious trophy once again. Both teams deserve to go through and be in the final, both play great attacking football lets just hope there are plenty of goals from some of the best players on the planet either way.
Tough test for Barca,. Barca plays a high line, Liverpool likes to run in behind, barca attacks down the middle and VVD stops even water from passing through. Barca's weakness are Liverpool's strengths, and their strengths in attack are what has made Liverpool famous in defense,a good prediction would say Liverpool to score more than barca, in any other season this would be true, but not this one because Messi promised us. I'm sure Liverpool is going to be touched by the wand
@gamerater yeah but same problem is for liverpool also they are really bad when some one counter attacks from wings if someone takes out vvc in centre and that messi/suarez can do or even couts I know liverpool is stronger than barca in terms of tactical aspects but liverpool has also got a lot of potential to do mistakes which anyone can exploit with a world class squad
@tonystarKK Start Lovren instead of Matip and you've got a mistake waiting to happen... :D
smh can't believe whoscored took Karius out of the motm predictions
@swagio but Coutinho is still credited as a Liverpool player LOL
Liverpool will not win here. I`d say 2-0 to Barca
@fansoccer if that happen Barcelona will be in good position in 2nd leg
Maybe just ban them instead of constantly deleting their comments? they're fake accounts used only for trolling anyway.
How is it possible that goalless Suarez has a higher avg rating than the highest rated Liverpool player, Mane? LOL something's wrong when a goalless striker has a higher rating than the opposition's star player.
People tend to underestimate the defense of Barca. Many games won by Barca this season were due to there formidable back four plus "the wall" MAtS, especially in the UCL. Honestly, I won't be surprised if this game ends with a 0-0 or 1-0 scoreline.
@LordOliver Well MATS is better than Alisson, Pique is much better than Matip and Alba is much better than Liverpool's left back but Van Dijk is much better than Lenglet and Semedo is equally as good as Liverpool's RB. All in all, Barca has a better defense but this is a UCL semifinal, anything can and will happen.
I'm a Barca fan and I wouldn't be surprised to see Liverpool dominate us over the two legs. I think I've seen enough Liverpool games to come to the conclusion that Liverpool (at least for this 2nd half of the season) play at a higher level. Liverpool just seems more organized and methodical in how they play. And of course they play at a lightning pace, while also having a good pressing game and the stamina to maintain it for 90 minutes. I'm not confident that Barca can cope with Liverpool's pressing game or with the pace of their attacking football. I hope i'm wrong, though.
Messi that is your time to shine upon the others
I don't really care about care about who goes through because the two teams are quite entertaining to watch. I will go for Liverpool anyway it is much scintillating watching them since last season.
Barca 3 - 1 Liverpool
Yes barca is a marvelous team but you can't ignore that liverpool have the mentality of a champion, as seen in their last 2 away matches. This should've been the final bro
@AnIndonesianMale true. They also deserve to go through. Lets hope luck is on barceloNa side. If barca goes tjrough. Liveepool will win a double nxt season: Epl and ucl. most teams should rebuild squad and quesstion their philosopies.
@FLOPessi & @Messibottleda4_1lead Thanks for your contribution to this match preview. Your IDs and the number of comments more than 2 weeks before a Barca match taking a dig at Messi shows which fans are real losers. Good luck in praying Liverpool's win.
@nikoanzai Pretty sure both those accounts belong to the same penaldian.
Salah is not good enough to wipe Messi's shoes. I'm not even Barca fan but Messi is miles ahead of Salah. Salah is top player for sure though
@NuchalLine
@NuchalLine yes but salah is really fit this season. Him and mane are very fit. They can press barcelona for 110 minutes.
Both teams in great shape and playing entertaining football. Good luck to both. 3-3
Ajax vs Barcelona will be the final...
If u think about Juventus has bought their biggest flope in years,, knocked out of every competition, and they will win a league title for the 7th is it straight season,, Ronaldo has flopped in Italy
Mr FloPessi and messibottled a 4-1 lead, I'm so happy you are talking trash about Messi, but in any case, on the first of June you are going to be ghosting in the Terraces as the GOAT lifts the trophy.. in any case our 6th ballon d'or has been won already.
100% Barcelona, since Guardiola arrival their knock out statisctics against english teams are 10 mission passed vs 1 mission failed (with 2 final wins)+2 group stage success in 16 vs City and in 19 vs Tottenham..so basically its 12/1...plus Klopp has lost 2 finals against spanish teams so far...
@Pastore10 ...but has won every single two-legged tie on his way to those finals. ;)
Messi and Mane will be two best players here.
1-1
Barcelona 2-0 Liverpool.
Barcelona 2-0 Liverpool.