Barcelona vs Liverpool Playerzpot Prediction | Champions League Semifinal Match Preview | Fantasy Team, Team News

Barcelona vs Liverpool Playerzpot Prediction |  Match Preview | Fantasy Team & Team News

Two absolute giants of European football will lock horns when Barcelona welcome Liverpool at Camp Nou for the first leg of the semifinal. Barcelona have already won the league title in Spain while Liverpool are set to battle it out for English Premier League with Manchester City till the very last moment. However, both the teams will now be focused on the blockbuster semifinal to advance to the final of the biggest club level tournament on the planet.

Barcelona must believe this is their year

Even though Barcelona have had great success in domestic competitions in recent years, they have largely failed in the Champions League. The utter dominance of bitter rivals Real Madrid has meant that the Blaugrana has not won the title in 3 years. A club of Barcelona’s stature with Messi firing on all cylinders ought to do more in Champions League.

Barcelona have a golden chance to go on and win the title this year. The tournament has already seen the exits of heavyweights like Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern Munich – leaving Barcelona as the favourites to win the coveted trophy.

Liverpool will make Barcelona sweat

?️ Hear what the boss had to say ahead of #BarçaLFC ??https://t.co/BZpB0a69eO

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 1, 2019

Liverpool have shown how they can trouble the best of the best. Jurgen Klopp’s team has a reputation for playing high-intensity direct football which is not easy to deal with. They could smother Barcelona with their relentless press and then they have a fearsome trio of Mane, Salah and Firmino to do the damage.

One could argue that Liverpool are better than they were last season as they seem to have found defensive stability. The Reds were finalists in the competition last year and they have it all to do one better this time.

Match Details: 

Competition – UEFA Champions League, Semifinal 1st Leg | Venue – Camp Nou, Barcelona

Date & Time – 2nd May, 12:30 AM IST 

Recent Form: Barcelona – D W W W W | Liverpool – W W W W W

Barcelona vs Liverpool Playerzpot Team News

Barcelona

• Raphina is the only absentee for Barcelona as the Brazilian recovers from a long term injury
• Busquets is expected to come in the side after being given rest in the La Liga match
• Former Liverpool player Coutinho should start for Barcelona ahead of Dembele

Liverpool

• Roberto Firmino sat out the last match with an injury, but is already in training and is expected to start
• Fabinho was also not involved in the last match for Liverpool as a precaution. He is expected to be fit in time.
• Keita and Wijnaldu will fight for a spot in midfield by the side of Henderson and Fabinho.

Our confirmed travelling squad for the trip to @FCBarcelona…#UCL

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 30, 2019

Expected Playing XIs

Barcelona – Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Arthur, Busquets, Rakitic; Messi, Suárez, Coutinho

Liverpool – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane

Barcelona vs Liverpool Playerzpot Fantasy Team

Fantasy picks from Barcelona

Lionel Messi | Coutinho | Suarez

• Lionel Messi will be relied upon to keep delivering the goods for his club. The Argentine superstar was immense against Manchester United in the last round.
• Former Liverpool pair Coutinho and Suarez are expected to trouble the Reds.

Fantasy picks from Liverpool

Firmino | Mane | Van Dijk

• Firmino and Mane have a knack of scoring crucial goals in big matches. Expect at least one of them to find the back of the net.
• Van Dijk will have the stage to show why he is being called as the best defender in the world right now.