Barca Thrash Reds In UCL Semifinal

Barcelona thrashed Liverpool 3-0 in UEFA Champions League Semifinals first leg as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez grabbed all the headlines.

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Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez lined up against their former side, while Naby Keita was drafted in to the side as Roberto Firmino was only fit enough to make the bench. The Catalan giants looked threatening going forward at every attempt, although they were thwarted by some stern defending by the Reds led by Virgil van Dijk.

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Twenty four minutes into the half, Jurgen Klopp was forced to re-shuffle his pack as Keita picked up a groin injury and was replaced by Jordan Henderson. Barca were ahead two minutes later as Jordi Alba’s superb cross from the left found Suarez for the close-range finish and the Uruguayan did not hold back with the celebration.

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With the hosts dominating, Liverpool carved out an opening out of nothing as Henderson’s superb pass sent Mane through on goal, but the Senegalese forward fired over the crossbar with only Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

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The Reds came out firing in the second half, but they were met by an alert Ter Stegen who pulled off a few fine saves to deny Milner and Salah in the opening 15 minutes.

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However, it was the home side who got the got the next goal on the counter that ended with Messi tapping into an empty net after Suarez’s effort crashed against the upright.

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Messi was not done there as the Argentine completed his brace in the 82nd minute with a stunning free-kick from 30-yards out that left Alisson Becker with no chance.

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The Reds pushed for a late goal to restore some hope for the second leg, but the defence held out until the final whistle as the Catalan giants take a 3-0 lead to Anfield next week.