Barca Must Learn from PSG, Real Capitulations — Valverde

By Daily Sports on March 13, 2019

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said they would be extra wary of Olympique Lyonnais in Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 return after Real Madrid and Paris St Germain suffered shock exits following second-leg turnarounds.

The first leg in Lyon finished goalless and Barca must beat the French side at the Nou Camp to reach the quarterfinals of a competition in which they have underperformed since last lifting the trophy in 2015.

The Catalans are overwhelming favourites to win the game and have an outstanding home record in the Champions League, remaining unbeaten at the Nou Camp in the competition since losing to Bayern Munich in 2013.

But Valverde said Barca needed to be extra careful after witnessing Real Madrid’s 4-1 home defeat by Ajax Amsterdam and PSG’s 3-1 reverse in Paris against Manchester United.

“The fact that teams like Real Madrid and PSG have been knocked out is important and we will have to be wary of that in the game, and we are not underestimating Lyon,” Valverde told a news conference on Tuesday.

“They have their weapons, above all in attack and their fast forwards and I'm sure they’ll try to make the most of that. They usually take the initiative in games, they know how important an away goal will be and they’ll use that.”

Lyon, who are third in Ligue 1 but caused a surprise by beating Manchester City away from home in the Champions League group stage, have been boosted by the return of French forward Nabil Fekir who was suspended from the first leg.

Barca winger Ousmane Dembele picked up a hamstring strain in Saturday’s 3-1 Liga win over Rayo Vallecano but Valverde named him in his squad on Tuesday.

“We will see how he is and make a decision later,” Valverde said. “It is an important match but we cannot take any risks.”

Barcelona have not lost a Champions League last-16 tie since going out to Liverpool in 2007 but have not gone beyond the quarterfinals since 2015. (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Barcelona players 

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 13, 2019


 

You may also like...
World Cup Player Tests Positive To Coronavirus

Pogba Becomes Latest Star To Move A Bottle...

El Hadji Diouf Tips Senegal for Nations Cup...

Willian Agrees Short-Term Deal To Remain At Chelsea...

Saul: I’ll Announce ‘New Club’ In Three Days...

CBN Tennis Championship: Adewale Wins Wheelchair Event’s Title...

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,141 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,991 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,931 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,288 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,332 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,035 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media