How does Barcelona play against Kiev without Messi?
Messi is one of the best players in the world today, no doubt about it, but at the end of the day he is also a man. He also needs rest. The current Barca coach himself was a great player, he understands all this very well. So Dinamo did not keep Messi in the squad for the match against Kiev in the Champions League, he rested. But without Messi, will Barcelona be able to cross the Kiev barrier?
Barcelona have played three matches so far in the group stage of this year's Champions League, winning all three. Has scored 9 goals and conceded 2 goals. Barca tops the group with 9 points, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus at number two with 6 points. Dinamo Kiev at 3 and Ferentsvaros at 4 are 1 point ahead of Kiev at 3. Barcelona will be sure to go to the last 16 if they win tomorrow. When the opponent is in Kiev, the Barca coach can give Messi a rest in such a match!
Before that, Barcelona has played 10 matches without Messi. Exactly half of 10 matches, Barca won at 5 o'clock. Barca faced Ibiza in the third round of the Copa del Rey earlier this year. Atowan Griezmann's pair of goals put the club in danger even though they fell behind at first.
Messi was not against Inter Milan in the last match of the group stage of the 2019-20 Champions League, but coach Ernesto Valvarde did not include the Argentine star in the squad as he was sure to advance to the second round. Barca had no problem winning the match thanks to the skills of Carles Perez and Ansu Fatir.
However, Barcelona won against Valencia by showing a lot of power. Suarez's pair of goals were scored by Gerard Pique, Fati and Frankie de Young. However, Athletic Bilbao lost to Barca 1-0.
In the last three matches of the 2018-19 season, Messi was not in the squad, the team lost in two, in a draw. Winning those three matches against Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Wesca is far from over, Barcelona could not score a goal.
So far this season, Messi has played 11 matches for Barcelona and 4 for Argentina. He played for 90 minutes in Argentina's jersey in South America and 90 minutes for Argentina in Bolivia. At least that is the message of not keeping the Argentine star in the team.
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