Valverde: ‘I’m calm about Messi’ | FCBarcelona
Valverde: “We don’t know too much about the physical condition of Messi and Ter Stegen, but this Thursday they will undergo medical tests to assess their status. Messi finished the last match against Athletic Club well, and we hope that it’s nothing serious.”
“We will play in all of the competitions this month and we will see how the players are when they return from international duty. The three points against Sevilla can be quite decisive.”
Barcelona will have to pay to secure their defensive line | Marca
Whilst much of the outside focus is often on Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, it has been the defence who have been crucial to the club’s fantastic campaign, and Valverde knows just how valuable these players are to his team.
Umtiti’s form hasn’t gone unnoticed across the continent and his 60 million euro buyout clause is temptingly cheap; Manchester United are the team who have been heavily linked of late.
Barca’s Digne to miss Roma reunion with thigh problem | Goal
Barcelona left-back Lucas Digne is set to spend three weeks on the sidelines after returning from international duty with France nursing a thigh injury. Following tests on Wednesday, the 24-year-old was diagnosed with a problem that will rule him out of both legs of Barca’s Champions League quarter-final against his former club Roma.
The 24-year-old joins a growing list of injury concerns for Barca, who are also sweating on the fitness of key players Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
FC Barcelona 0-1 Olympique Lyon: It wasn’t to be | FCBarcelona.com
And so the dream ends. FC Barcelona have lost 1-0 at home to Olympique Lyon(and 3-1 on aggregate) in the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions Leaguequarter final and have bowed out of the contest against the defending champions. But they have exited the tournament with their heads held very high after fighting all the way versus one of the strongest women’s teams on the planet.
And the Miniestadi witnessed a new record crowd of 12,178 spectators, including club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, first team manager Ernesto Valverde, and players past and present including Jasper Cillessen, Samuel Umtiti and Patrick Kluivert.
