SUAREZ SENDS BARCA FANS A POWERFUL MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

• The Uruguayan is unavailable for the Copa final because of a knee injury.
• He writes on Twitter: "Work looking forward because you can always improve. Learning from the most difficult moments even if the situation is very painful! It’s hard but we need to be positive."

Luis Suarez won't be able to help Barcelona in the remaining matches of the 2018/2019 campaign, including the crucial Copa del Rey final against Valencia. The Uruguayan had to undergo a knee surgery right after the disastrous 4-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool. He still hopes to get fit for the upcoming Copa America tournament in Brazil which starts next month.

Suarez posts an emotional message on his personal Twitter account: "Work looking forward because you can always improve. Learning from the most difficult moments even if the situation is very painful! It’s hard but we need to be positive."

He also adds a picture with a telling caption: 'Keep going, looking ahead'

Suarez has scored 25 goals and provided 13 assists in 49 games across all competitions this season. He has been an undisputed starter at the centre of Barcelona's attack as Kevin-Prince Boateng wasn't able to become the Uruguayan's competitor.

Will Suarez be missed against Valencia?

BARCELONA DRESSING ROOM DOESN’T WANT GRIEZMANN

• Barcelona players allegedly aren't happy about Antoine's possible arrival.
• They don't like the way Griezmann refused the Catalans last season.
• Contrary to the reports, Messi confessed that he didn't call the Frenchman.
• The forward is not the exact reinforcement the team needs, they believe.
• His arrival would be a bad example for the youngsters at the club.

According to Sport, an outlet based in Barcelona, the players at the club will not welcome Griezmann if Bartomeu secures the Frenchman's signing. Reportedly, there are four main reasons why the dressing room won't welcome him with open arms.

First of all, the way he rejected the Liga champions a year ago didn't go well with the majority of the squad. Last season, the club's leaders were waiting for Antoine to join and were disappointed when he posted the infamous documentary 'The Decision' to announce his intention to remain at Atletico Madrid.

Second, Messi is allegedly not as excited about the 28-year-old's arrival as it was earlier reported by other sources. Leo supposedly confessed to his teammates that he didn't call the French international to convince him to join Barcelona.

Third, most of the locker-room believes that the forward is not the player Barca needs at the moment. Perhaps they believe that a striker should not be the board's top priority in the summer and they consider that reinforcements need to be done in other positions.

And lastly, the way the 2018 World Cup winner played 'cat and mouse' with the club last season would serve as a bad example to the younger players from La Masia. Perhaps they are right that last summer's saga went overboard and that Barca has lost its authority in the eyes of the youth.

Atletico recently announced that their best player will be leaving the club once the transfer window opens. Barcelona have allegedly contacted Griezmann over a contract and are waiting until July 1st to activate his €120m release clause.

BARCA NOT READY TO MEET DE LIGT RISING DEMANDS

• De Ligt has changed his demands in recent weeks.
• He wants a leading role in the team from the getgo.
• His agent, Mino Raiola, demands a bigger commission fee than previously.
• Barcelona are not ready to satisfy these demands.

Multiple reports claim that Matthijs de Ligt sealed an agreement with Barcelona already last month, on April 12, however, nothing has been confirmed yet.

Moreover, worrying reports have come on Friday from renowned Catalan journalist Gerard Romero claiming that potential agreement is becoming even more complicated as de Ligt considers that his status has risen in recent days.

His agent, Mino Raiola, asks for more money than was agreed on because of the interesting offers that are coming in from other clubs. While the centre-back himself asks to have a leading role.

Right now there are three world-class centre-backs at Barca, namely Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet, so it's quite natural that Matthijs wants some assurances.

Here is de Ligt's Eredivisie record, as per Transfermarkt:

As for Raiola, the deal can only be fully completed once Barca and the agent come to an agreement which is the most serious obstacle at the moment as the Catalans stay firm in their decision to spend around 70-80 million euros for the Dutchman, just as they did with his teammate De Jong.

At the moment, Barcelona cannot meet the new demands. But it doesn't mean that they will give up on de Ligt that easy. 

Matthijs himself was unable to shed light on his much-talked-about transfer on Wednesday: "I can’t say anything about it. We will see where I am at the end of the summer. Nothing has been finalised yet."

MOURINHO I DOUBT MESSI DESERVES BALLON D’OR

• Mourinho states that Champions League elimination raises questions over Messi's season.
• The Portuguese doubts that Messi should be given Ballon d'Or without winning the most prestigious trophy in European football.

Jose Mourinho, the master of controversial statements, has questioned Leo Messi's right to win the highest individual award in football, Ballon d'Or.

"I have doubts that he [Messi] deserves the Ballon d'Or this year because he failed in the Champions' League," the former Real Madrid boss said in the interview with RMC Sport. 

Barcelona lost to Liverpool 4-0 in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final. The braces of Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum brought the Reds the win over Barca that allowed them to overcome the 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou.

Barca's season is basically over now as we have already won the La Liga title and only have a Copa del Rey final to play. Many expect the Liverpool disaster to motivate the Barcelona board to introduce several radical changes in summer.

As for Leo Messi, he is still seen as the most likely winner of the prestigious award. Barca captain is on the way to his sixth Golden Boot with 34 league goals in 33 matches. Overall, Messi scored 48 and assisted 22 goals in 48 appearances this season. There is no player in the world who is even remotely close to Leo in terms of goal contribution. So, Mourinho's words probably shouldn't be considered as something more serious than his usual attempts to start controversy.

Interestingly, just a few weeks ago the Portuguese said something very different about Messi's Ballon d'Or chances.

"Messi is having a phenomenal season and now with Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo outside this fight, he knows also that the Ballon d'Or is there waiting for him,’ Mourinho told Russia Today.

WHAT COACHING BARCELONA DOES TO YOUR HAIR

• Coaching Barca is one of the most stressful jobs in football.
• During their time in Catalonia, Guardiola and Luis Enrique started to go bald.
• Valverde didn't lose his hair but it started to go grey instead.

Barcelona is one of the biggest clubs in the world and it is not surprising every coach that stays at the club for more than a year is affected by the stressful day-to-day environment.

The boss has to maintain a good relationship with the media, the board, manage a dress-room full of world-class stars and in addition to that, play attractive football to make the fans happy.

The best example of the 'before-after' effect is Pep Guardiola. When he took over the club in 2008, he was still only 37. At the presentation, the Spaniard looked young and full of energy. And the most unbelievable thing - he still had hair.

However, when his four-season-long spell at the club was over, he left Catalonia completely bald. 

Another example is Luis Enrique. Unlike Pep, Lucho was already in his forties when he took over. But he didn't look old, far from it. We all know that one of his favourite activities is cycling, which helped him stay in form even at 44.

But just like Guardiola, when the time came for him to leave Barca, he looked exhausted, drained out. His hair started getting grey and he had even lost a fair amount of it.

And lastly, being in charge at Barcelona didn't go easy for Ernesto Valverde. The Basque coach joined the Catalans only two years ago but it hasn't gone unnoticed.

Even though he is the oldest coach to work at the club in a while, when he took over for Athletico Bilbao, he still looked rather young. His time in Catalonia included two humiliating exits from the Champions League, Neymar's departure and constant pressure from the media. No wonder that he has changed so much since then.

Do you agree that coaching Barcelona is the most stressful job in football?

DE LIGT SETS DEADLINE FOR HIS FUTURE TO BE SORTED OUT

• Barca have a 70-million euros agreement on de Ligt's transfer with Ajax.
• Some things still need to be sorted out between Barcelona and the player's agent, Mino Raiola.
• De Ligt wants the move to be completed before 24 May when he joins the national team.
• In the next 10 days, the final meeting should take place between Barca and de Ligt where everything will be signed.
• The move will be announced after Copa final.

Despite Matthijs de Ligt's transfer to Barcelona being roughly agreed on, the official announcement is still pending.

According to Diario Sport, there are several reasons for that. Firstly, it's de Ligt'sgreat performances in the Champions League that saw many other European clubs interested and trying to outbid Barca for the centre-back. Secondly, it's the player's agent, Mino Raiola, who is notoriously 'difficult' to deal with in negotiations. This last factor has even prompted Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu to take charge of the transfer himself, just like he did previously with Frenkie de Jong. 

Blaugrana colours would really suit them, wouldn't they?

In any case, the deal is nearing its completion and, according to Sport's information, de Ligt wants everything sorted out before 24 May when he joins Holland on national duty. Ajax's final game this season will take place on Wednesday and after that the 19-year-old will have a 10-day break before joining the national team. During this period the two parties will meet again to sign the final agreement.

OFFICIAL STARTING XI BARCELONA VS CELTA VIGO

Barca's XI: Cillessen, Wagué, Todibó, Umtiti, Vermaelen; Aleñá, Arthur, Riqui Puig; Malcom, Boateng, Dembelé.

Subs: Iñaki Peña, Murillo, Lenglet, Semedo, Vidal, Collado, Coutinho.

Barcelona make the trip to Celta Vigo this weekend on the back of a hugely-successful week for the club.

The Catalan giants sealed the La Liga crown last Saturday as Lionel Messicame off the bench to net the decisive goal in a 1-0 triumph over Levante.

Ernesto Valverde's side have also taken a significant step towards reaching the Champions League final courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Out: Rafinha (knee)

Valverde will almost certainly rest each of his first XI from midweek, and the starting lineup is expected to be similar to the one which faced Huesca last month.

Barcelona switched to a back three on that day, and Samuel Umtiti, Jeison Murilloand Thomas Vermaelen are likely to be handed rare outings in defence.

Jean-Clair Todibo should also get another opportunity to impress, with Carles Alena and Riqui Puig joining the January arrival in midfield.

Malcom may be asked to play as an attack-minded left-wing back, with Senegal international Moussa Wague being used on the opposite side of the pitch.

Ousmane Dembele and Kevin-Prince Boateng should form the attack, with each of Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Messi not being involved.

GUARDIOLA NAME REASON FOR BARCA WIN OVER LIVERPOOL

• Pep Guardiola has nothing bad to say about Liverpool's performance against Barca.
• He thinks the game was 'incredibly good'.
• And Man City manager also doesn't believe Barca's win vs LFC will help him in the title race.
• Pep also names the reason for Barca's victory - Leo Messi.

Barcelona brilliantly beat Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

The Reds' main competitor for the Premier League title Pep Guardiola was there to witness that tough moment for Liverpool. He watched the game from the Camp Nou stands supporting Barca as a regular Cule.

Barcelona legend does not believe Liverpool's defeat will throw them off course right before the end of the season because their performance was good:

"I don't think so, the game was incredibly good, both sides," Pep told reporters on Friday. "Liverpool were outstanding and a good performance from both. I enjoyed watching it," Guardiola said.

"I don't think it will affect them, I think it will be not easy at Newcastle but they'll be well prepared to win there."

And the reason for the Champions League result is obvious for Pep - it's just Messi:

"Yes [it's Messi].

"I think Barca defended really well, they beat an incredible team. Liverpool must be proud of what they did in the most difficult stadium, they played with personality and courage. Both teams played the way they did and they deserve it."

MARIO BALOTELLI WANTS MESSI VS RONALDO COMPARISON TO END

• The Italian forward asks his Instagram followers to stop the comparisons 'for the love of football'.
• Balotelli's words came after Messi's second goal vs Liverpool.

Mario Balotelli was watching Barcelona vs Liverpool and couldn't help himself from voicing his opinion on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's rivalry.

The Italian striker took to Instagram right after Messi's sensational free-kick goal and wrote: "A phenomenon. For the love of football please do not compare him to the no. 7 of Juventusanymore."

Barcelona defeated Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. Luis Suarez's goal and Messi's brace brought Barca the extremely important victory on Wednesday. The return leg will be played on May 7 at Anfield.

Messi scored his first goal by picking up the ball that has bounced off the crossbar after Luis Suarez's shot and tapping it in. His second goal was way more difficult as the ball was placed approximately 26 metres away from Alisson's goal. Nevertheless, Messi scored yet another free-kick goal this season striking the ball right into the top corner.

OFFICIAL STARTING XI BARCELONA VS LIVERPOOL

• Arturo Vidal sensationally starts in the midfield instead of Arthur.
• Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho both start as well.

Ernesto Valverde names his strongest squad to face Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

As it was expected earlier, he opts for the possession-orientated football and includes Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho among the starting XI.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Alba, Lenglet, Pique, Roberto; Vidal, Busquets, Rakitic; Coutinho, Suarez, Messi.

There were rumours that Arthur is set to start instead of Vidal, however, the coach decides otherwise.

The starting lineups are in for Wednesday's gigantic Champions League semifinal showdown between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Camp Nou. The first-leg battle is set for 3 p.m. ET -- stream via  fuboTV (Try for free) -- and neither team is fielding any big surprises, but one of Liverpool's stars didn't make the starting XI. 

The big lineup story leading up to this onewas whether Roberto Firmino would play at all, but the Brazilian striker isn't in the starting lineup for Liverpool. He's been named to the bench after missing out on the team's last league game as he recovers from an ankle injury, but there's a chance he'll come on as a substitute. 

Here are the lineups:

Barcelona: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Piqué, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal; Lionel Messi. Luis Suárez, Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool: Alisson; Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Fabinho, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita; Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah

RAKITIC HIT BACK AT KLOPP ASKING HIM TO RESPECT CAMP NOU

• The Croatian believes the Reds' coach 'wanted to take the pressure off his players'.
• However, Rakitic urges to show more respect to the unique atmosphere: "It's a different stadium, with a different atmosphere and that you have to respect."
• He also admits he wishes Barca could always play at home.
• Previously, Klopp said that Camp Nou isn't 'a football temple'.

Ivan Rakitic faces the press ahead of Wednesday's first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Liverpool. He issues a warning to the Reds' head coach Jurgen Klopp who has lately diminished the importance of Camp Nou.

The Croatian fires back: "Klopp wanted to take the pressure off his players, I respect his opinion, playing at the Camp Nou is something different, special, it does not matter whether it's a temple or not."

However, he highlights the importance of respect between the sides: "It's a different stadium, with a different atmosphere and that you have to respect. I wish we could always play at the Camp Nou, we have to respect the opinion of everyone."

On Monday, Klopp said in an interview to DAZN: "The Camp Nou is just a stadium, quite big, but it's not a football temple."

FC Barcelona official Twitter account responded in style the following day: "This is Camp Nou. Our home. Our temple. Our fortress."

KLOPP NAME THE WINNER OF MESSI VS RONALDO DUET

• The German picks up the Argentinean: "Messi would be for me – as a player I’ve seen – the No.1. 100 per cent."
• He chooses him ahead of both Cristiano Ronaldo and even Pele.
• In fact, Messi is the main contender for the 2019 Ballon d'Or. 

During his traditional pre-match presser ahead of the Barcelona vs Liverpool Champions League semi-finals, Jurgen Klopp gets involved in the neverending Leo Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debates. The German specialist appears to be a true fan of the Argentinean.

Liverpool official website quote Klopp as saying:

"Messi would be for me – as a player I’ve seen – the No.1. 100 per cent, that’s me. Cristiano Ronaldo is for sure in that as well and all the rest we have to see, I have coached a few really good players, but they didn’t finish their careers and they still have time to develop. My father always said it was Pele, but I didn’t see Pele live – I am too young for that. There are lot of good players around, but that’s my ranking – Leo is, for me, the best."

What about Messi vs Ronaldo battle? Apparently, the Argentinean is set to win it. He has already scored 46 goals in 45 matches in all competitions as he is also the leading scorer in both La Liga and Champions League. The Portuguese, meanwhile, has only scored 27 goals in 40 matches.

In fact, Messi has completely beaten his long-time rival this term. Unlike Cristiano, the Argentinean is still fighting for a treble as Barcelona face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final. Moreover, Messi is currently the Champions League goalscorer with 10 goals this season. Ronaldo, meanwhile, was unable to prevent defeats to Ajax and Atalanta which saw Juventusout of the Champions League and Coppa Italia respectively.

Summing up, Messi is now the main contender for the 2019 Ballon d'Or award.

OFFICIAL STARTING XI BARCELONA VS MANCHESTER UNITED

 

FC Barcelona take a comfortable 1-0 lead into the second leg of their UFEA Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United, who will need another inspired away performance to overturn a first-leg home defeat.

UEFA Champions League

Teams: FC Barcelona vs Manchester United

Date: 16 April

Venue: Camp Nou

Time: 21:00

The Catalan giants beat United at Old Trafford courtesy of an own goal by Luke Shaw, who is suspended for the second leg, a week ago.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have upset the odds in this season's edition of the tournament once before – in the second leg of their last 16 tie at Paris Saint-Germain, when they became the first team to overturn a 2-0 home defeat, beating the French champions 3-1 thanks to a last-minute penalty strike by Marcus Rashford.

Barcelona have won the past three games between the two sides, including the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, but United have won both previous two-legged ties.

The home side will be keen to advance beyond the quarter-finals after their previous three UCL campaigns ended at this stage, with AS Roma famously knocking them out in dramatic fashion last season.

The LaLiga leaders have progressed 36 out of 38 times when they took an away lead into the second leg in a European fixture, with their last failure to do so dating back to 1984/85, when Metz upset them 4-2 at the Camp Nou after losing the home fixture 1-0.

United, meanwhile, have won just two of their past 16 meetings against Spanish clubs – drawing six and losing eight – and are without victory in their past seven games against LaLiga sides.

Here is how both team line up !

OFFICIAL STARTING XI BARCELONA VS MANCHESTER UNITED

These 11 men are responsible for the win tonight.

Barcelona announce the squad for the game against Manchester United.

XI: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur; Coutinho, Messi, and Suarez.

Bench: Cillessen, Umtiti, Roberto, Vidal, Alena, Malcom, Dembele.

Starting XI for Manchester United 

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE QUATERFINALS DRAW AND STATISTICS OF THE TEAMS PLAYING

 

Arsenal will take on Napoli in the pick of the ties in the quarter-finals of this season’s Europa League following Friday’s draw, as Chelsea were paired with outsiders Slavia Prague. 

Unai Emery’s team will host Napoli at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg on April 11, with the return in Italy a week later.

It is a tough draw for the Gunners, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli currently second in Serie A -- they were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage despite beating Liverpool at home and drawing twice with Paris Saint-Germain.

The winners of that tie will go on to a semi-final against the winners of an all-Spanish quarter-final between local rivals Valencia and Villarreal.

Both La Liga sides defeated Russian opposition in the last 16, with Valencia edging out Krasnodar and Villarreal, who are struggling domestically, knocking out Zenit Saint Petersburg.

FULL DRAW:

Arsenal (England) vs. Napoli (Italy)

Villarreal (Spain) vs. Valencia (Spain)

Benfica (Portugal) vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) vs. Chelsea (England)

Before winning the Europa League three years running with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016, Emery really came to prominence during three years in charge of Valencia. He led them to three consecutive third-place finishes in La Liga between 2010 and 2012.

Emery and Ancelotti are both former Paris Saint-Germain coaches, but the latter may have wished for a match-up with another of his old sides, Chelsea.

Instead, the west London club will face Slavia, heading to the capital of the Czech Republic for the first leg on April 11.

Chelsea, winners of the Europa League in 2013, will fancy their chances of advancing, although they would be wise to beware a Slavia side who are top of the Czech league and knocked out Sevilla in the last 16.

The winners of that tie will go through to a semi-final against either Benfica or dark horses Eintracht Frankfurt.

Benfica, who dropped out of this season’s Champions League at the group stage, lost to Chelsea in the 2013 Europa League final and were then beaten by Sevilla on penalties in the final a year later.

Eintracht are a dangerous prospect, and the only German survivor in any European competition this season.

The 1980 UEFA Cup winners, and runners-up in the European Cup in 1960, won the German Cup last season and are fresh from eliminating Inter Milan in the last 16.

This year’s Europa League final will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29. The winners will secure passage to next season’s Champions League group stage

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW AND STATISTICS OF THE TEAMS PLAYING

The quarter-final match-ups for the UEFA Champions League quarter finals are locked in!

In a mouthwatering result for football fans, Manchester United will take on Barcelona in a clash of football heavyweights, while Liverpool fans got a dream draw with their Reds to take on Porto.

There’s also a massive clash of Premier League giants with Manchester City and Spurs to face off in the last eight.

Leaving Ajax to take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus in the other tie.

MATCH DATES (AEST)

Quarter-finals Leg 1: April 10 and 11

Quarter-finals Leg 2: April 18 and 18

Semi-finals Leg 1: May 1 and 2

Semi-finals Leg 2: May 8 and 9

Final: June 2 at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain.

A LOOK AT THE FINAL 8

JUVENTUS

Juventus’ off-season move to sign Cristiano Ronaldo was intended to end a 23-year wait for a third European title.

It’s working so far.

Ronaldo delivered another career-defining performance, scoring a hat trick against Atletico Madrid to overturn a 2-0 first-leg loss. His legal issues in the United States, where he has been accused of rape, seemed a world away. Ronaldo is looking to join Seedorf as the only players to win the European Cup or Champions League with three different clubs. Veteran Juventus defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, along with coach Massimiliano
Allegri, just want a first title after losing in the final in 2015 and ‘17.

LIVERPOOL

A finalist last season and now in the quarterfinals again, Liverpool is back at Europe’s top table.

The mature way the five-time European champions dealt with Bayern Munich in their 3-1 away win in the last 16 showed how far they have come under Juergen Klopp over the past two years.

It was fitting that a goal by Virgil van Dijk proved to be key in Munich, with the arrival of the centre back for $99 million in January 2018 shoring up a defence that had been shaky in Klopp’s first two years in charge. Liverpool also now has a world-class goalkeeper in Brazil international Alisson Becker. Few will relish going to Anfield in the last eight. Just ask Manchester City, which was swept aside 3-0 in the first leg last year to virtually end its Champions League ambitions.

MANCHESTER CITY

This season seems like City’s best chance to become European champion since being taken over by its Abu Dhabi owners in 2008.

No longer Champions League novices, City is in the quarterfinals for the third time in four years.

The depth in Pep Guardiola’s squad is fueling a challenge for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, having already won the English League Cup. City has benefited from benign draws, with Schalke shaping up as the weakest round of 16 option. City won 10-2 over two legs.

A two-leg quarterfinal against Liverpool, its Premier League title rival, or against Manchester United, its neighbour, would be quite an experience.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Twenty years after scoring the winning goal for United in a Champions League final, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to lead the team to the title as manager. After his understrength team’s amazing comeback at Paris Saint-Germain from a 2-0 first-leg loss, who would bet against them?

There’s a “nothing to lose” feel about United, which was a huge outsider when qualifying for the knockout stage under Jose Mourinho.

Solskjaer has restored some of the team’s belief and attacking swagger in three months in charge. See especially Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku. It might not be enough for a fourth European title but it should be fun watching.

PORTO

Porto is, perhaps, the team everyone else in the draw wants to face. Coached by former player Sergio Conceicao, Porto is looking to go beyond the quarterfinals for the first time since 2004 when Jose Mourinho led the team to its second title.

Porto has flavours of South America and Mexico in the team, plus a foundation of Champions League-winning former Madrid veterans: 37-year-old goalkeeper Iker Casillas and 36-year-old defender Pepe, who returned to his former club in January.

Like Liverpool, Porto has a strong African influence in attack with Mali forward Moussa Marega its top scorer with six goals in the competition.

TOTTENHAM

Tottenham is in the quarterfinals for only the second time, despite not buying any players in the past year.

That highlights the extraordinary job coach Mauricio Pochettino is doing with a tight-knit squad - headlined by England striker Harry Kane and Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen - and an ever tighter budget.

Tottenham’s new stadium, built on the site of its former White Hart Lane ground in north London, should finally get to host a Champions League game after season-long construction delays and safety concerns.

If Tottenham is drawn at home for the first leg on April 9-10, it could even officially open the new arena.