BARCELONA (AFP) - Barcelona will make a late decision on the fitness of Ousmane Dembele ahead of their Champions League second leg against Lyon, coach Ernesto Valverde said on Tuesday (March 12).
Dembele sustained a minor hamstring strain against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and is a doubt for the game at the Camp Nou, where Lyon arrive after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
"We will see how he is and make a decision later," Valverde said.
"It is an important match but we cannot take any risks. If he isn't fit, he will have to wait for the next opportunity," he added.
Dembele's absence could mean a start for Philippe Coutinho, who has struggled in recent weeks and was whistled off by a minority of Barcelona fans when substituted last weekend.
Signed for €160 million (S$244 million) from Liverpool just over a year ago, Coutinho has started 16 of Barcelona's 27 La Liga games this season.
Asked if he had spoken to the Brazilian about his form, Valverde said: "The way we handle the players is a private matter. What we want is for them to give us their best and we expect a lot from him."
The pressure is on Coutinho, and Barca, to deliver against Lyon on Wednesday as they aim to make amends for a disappointing run of three consecutive quarter-final exits in the Champions League.
"The fact that Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid have been eliminated tells you how hard the competition is and warns us to be vigilant," Valverde said.
"The pressure is on to progress but we focus on the game and if we generate the same chances as we did in the first leg, we will go through."
Madrid sacked Santiago Solari and re-appointed Zinedine Zidane as coach on Monday after they lost to Ajax in the last 16, a defeat that came after consecutive losses to Barcelona.
"He's a great coach," Valverde said of Zidane. "We look forward to facing him next season."
'Electric' Sterling has boss purring, Football News & Top
Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday, missing the chance to mathematically guarantee they finish second in La Liga
Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless
Football: Furious Sarri slams Chelsea players as 'difficult
The Rockets guard probably felt his mission was successful after the two-time NBA MVP went scoreless in the first half. the playoffs with a 118-113 road win. Hottest Rim Protectors.
Talking Points from the Bruins' 7-2 Game 3 win over the Blues
Sead Kolasinac put through his own net in stoppage time to give Huddersfield late hope, scoring Huddersfield's first goal in over nine hours of football in all competitions, but the visitors held on for the win. Victory moved Arsenal level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, who play Manchester City on Sunday, while Huddersfield stayed
Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Klopp manager Jurgen Klopp said. Liverpool beat Porto 4-1 at the Dragao Stadium on Wednesday to advance 6-1 on aggregate with their attacking
Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Klopp
Football: Mourinho rejects offers, reveals fragile ego at United LONDON • Jose Mourinho revealed that he has turned down three job offers since being sacked by Manchester United last month, adding he was happy to bide his time before taking on his next challenge.
Latest JOSE MOURINHO | The Straits Times
England Captain Harry Kane Wants to End Career as NFL Kicker Kane, the top scorer at last year's FIFA World Cup, has long been an admirer of American football and believes successfully switching sports late in his career will help him go down in history as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.
England captain Harry Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker
The wife of Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas, Sara Carbonero, has announced that she has undergone surgery for cancer just three weeks after the goalkeeper suffered a heart attack.
Football: After goalie Casillas' heart attack, wife Sara says
virginiabus.info/sports/football-after-goalie-casillas-heart-attack-wife-sara-says-she-has-had-ovarian-cancer-op/
MADRID (REUTERS) - Sara Carbonero, the wife of Spain's World Cup-winning football captain Iker Casillas, has announced that she has undergone surgery for cancer just three weeks after the goalkeeper suffered a heart attack.
Soccer-After Casillas heart-attack, wife says she has had
Return To Game. Scores reset in: Games › Action › By clicking "Add Starship Gunner to Your Website", you agree to the Webmaster Terms and Conditions.
Jason Momoa: 'It's Impossible' for Drogo to Return for 'Game
Norwich promoted to Premier League after three-year absence
Wes Brown recognises Ferguson fingerprints at Manchester United under Solskjaer Since replacing Jose Mourinho in December in a caretaker role, Solskjaer has put forward a near-perfect case to take
Former Manchester United stalwarts Dwight Yorke and Wes Brown
chennaiyinfc.com/former-manchester-united-stalwarts-dwight-yorke-and-wes-brown-meet-chennaiyin-fc-stars/
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke was a special guest at the Indian Super League encounter between reigning champions Chennaiyin FC and Delhi Dynamos FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday evening.
ISL 2017: Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown signs
Singapore's hero in their Airmarine Cup 1-0 match win over Malaysia, Faris Ramli is not ruling out a return to the Malaysian league. The winger scored the decisive goal against their Causeway rivals late in the match on Wednesday, to help the Lions reach the final of the invitational tournament.
Much improved Malaysia downed Afghanistan to - goal.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment