( LLUIS GENE / AFP/GETTY IMAGES )Wednesday won’t be one of those days, as Barcelona faces Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Article Continued BelowHe has also helped the team advance to a fifth straight Copa del Rey final, and reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time in four seasons. “Messi is the centerpiece of our success,” Valverde said after Barcelona won the league. That was the case last weekend in a match against Levante, which Barcelona needed to win to secure the league title. Messi had been playing nonstop as Barcelona played a difficult period that included games against Real Madrid and French club Lyon in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Source: thestar April 30, 2019 16:52 UTC