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Messi, Neymar to battle in dream Copa final for 1st title Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar will line up opposite each other in Saturday’s Copa America final looking to end a hoodoo that has also affected some of their countries’ greatest players. Like Brazil’s Pele and Diego Maradona of Argentina before them, neither Messi nor Neymar has ever won the Copa. That statistic will change for one of them in the dream final at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium. For six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, this will be his fourth Copa final and perhaps his last chance to finish on the winning side. He’s been his team’s standout performer, as ever, scoring four goals and creating five more — the tournament leader in both categories. But at 34, this may well be his last Copa and next year’s World Cup could be his last major international tournament altogether. So far, finals have led only to disappointment for Messi having lost in 2007, 2015 and 2016 at the Copa, and seen his side beaten 1-0 by Germany at the 2014 World Cup. Some people believe winning something with Argentina is Messi’s only remaining professional goal. “We’ll try to stop him achieving this objective,” said Brazil centre-back Marquinhos. “As much as Messi, we also have players that deserve this title … like our own ‘Ney’ who wasn’t there for the last Copa,” he added. At 29, Neymar has a bit more time on his side but he was injured and absent two years ago when Brazil won their ninth title on home soil, beating Peru 3-1 in the final. – ‘Eternal rivals’ – But as well as the two superstars lining up on opposite sides on Saturday, this is a classic match between two world heavyweights. “We’re going to play a final against our eternal rivals, the lifelong ones, the two most powerful national teams in South America and we hope … it will be a great match,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. “Brazil versus Argentina is much more than a simple game of football … these jerseys make the world stand still to watch their games. That represents the history of Brazil-Argentina,” added Marquinhos. Incredibly, these two sides are not even the two most successful ones in Copa history, with Uruguay having won 15 titles to Argentina’s 14 and Brazil’s nine. In what is the 47th edition of the Copa, this is also just the fourth time these two have met in the final, with Argentina triumphing the first time in 1937 and Brazil coming out on top in 2004 and 2007. And that is despite having faced each other more than 100 times in their history. They have been by far the strongest two sides in the competition, even if Argentina rode their luck a touch in their semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Colombia. – ‘World class players’ – The two squads are impressive for their strength in depth. In their semi-final victory over Peru — and despite Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus being suspended — Brazil left the likes of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, Flamengo hot-shot Gabriel Barbosa and Real Madrid starlet Vinicius Junior on the bench. In midfield, Liverpool’s Fabinho has been kept out of the side by a resurgent Fred, of Manchester United. Likewise, Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria — a bright spark when he came on in the semi-final against Colombia — has mostly started on the bench while new Barcelona signing Sergio Aguero has hardly had a look in for Argentina. Messi and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez (three goals) have provided Argentina’s main attacking thrust but they have quality and creativity throughout. “Argentina are not just Lautaro and Messi, we cannot only concentrate on those two,” said Brazil and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro. “They’re great players, world class players, but if Argentina have reached the final it’s because of the (whole) group, we have to respect this.” As well as looking to end his career-long trophy drought with Argentina, Messi could make history in another way on Saturday. He currently sits on 76 goals for Argentina, one shy of Pele’s South American record of 77 national team goals.

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar will line up opposite each other in Saturday’s Copa America final looking to end a hoodoo that has also affected some of their countries’ greatest players. Like Brazil’s Pele and Diego Maradona of Argentina before them, neither Messi nor Neymar has ever won the Copa. That statistic will change for one of them in the dream final at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium. For six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, this will be his fourth Copa final and perhaps his last chance to finish on the winning side. He’s been his team’s standout performer, as ever, scoring four goals and creating five more — the tournament leader in both categories. But at 34, this may well be his last Copa and next year’s World Cup could be his last major international tournament altogether. So far, finals have led only to disappointment for Messi having lost in 2007, 2015 and 2016 at the Copa, and seen his side beaten 1-0 by Germany a...

Messi, Ronaldo gone from Champions League but the absence of fans hurts most Paris (AFP) – The elimination of both Barcelona and Juventus from the Champions League means neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition, which this week marked a year since matches were last played in full stadiums. The end of the Messi-Ronaldo era has been approaching for some time and both going out of the Champions League, the tournament that together they dominated for so long, in the last 16 is another step closer to that point. At least one of them had made it to the quarter-finals in each of the previous 15 campaigns, although Ronaldo had gone out while Messi was injured in the latter stages in the first year of that run, when Barcelona won the trophy in 2005/06. Before that, in 2004/05, Ronaldo had just turned 20 as his Manchester United side lost to AC Milan in the last 16. Messi was still 17 and just breaking through at Barcelona as they lost to Chelsea at the same juncture. Between them they have won the Champions League nine times over the period. They are by some distance the all-time top scorers in the competition, with Ronaldo on 134 goals followed by Messi on 120. The next highest scorer is Robert Lewandowski with 72. Over 12 straight seasons from 2008 to 2019 one of them was the top scorer in the competition every year. Now the latter stages will go ahead without them. Ronaldo, who turned 36 last month, cut a frustrated figure for much of Juve’s game against Porto on Tuesday as the Italians went out on away goals. He didn’t score in either leg against Porto. Two of his four goals in the group stage were penalties. “With him we usually start with a goal’s advantage,” said Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo. “But it can also happen to the greatest champions not to score.” Messi, 34 in June, scored both Barcelona’s goals in their 5-2 aggregate defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, including a stunning long-range hit in the second leg, but a later penalty miss killed off any hopes his team had of a remarkable comeback. It is now over to the new superstars, most notably Kylian Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland, as the Champions League reaches its business end. However what the competition is really crying out for, even more than Messi and Ronaldo, is fans in the stands. – Not the same – The last time a knockout tie was played before a crowd was exactly a year ago, on March 11 last year, when Liverpool faced Atletico Madrid in front of more than 52,000 people packed into Anfield. It was the same day that the World Health Organization first described the Covid-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Other European matches that midweek had already been played behind closed doors. On Thursday, March 12, two Europa League last 16 first-leg games went ahead in front of crowds, with close to 50,000 inside Ibrox to see Rangers take on Bayer Leverkusen. By that weekend football had ground to a halt almost everywhere as lockdowns took hold. The sport began to return in Europe a couple of months later but, one year on, clubs are straining under the weight of the economic hit of playing games behind closed doors. The sense of occasion has essentially gone too, even if some supporters managed to break France’s strict night-time curfew to let off fireworks right outside the ground during PSG’s game against Barcelona on Wednesday. Instead of a packed Anfield, Liverpool’s home game against RB Leipzig on Wednesday was relocated to an empty stadium in Budapest, where Manchester City will face Borussia Moenchengladbach next week. The football remains of a high quality, but it is not the same. “I said it 5,000 times, football would not be the game we love,” without fans, said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp this week. “Nobody would be interested, nobody would want to watch it in a stadium. I can’t wait for the day when people are allowed again to go to the stadium.”

Paris (AFP) – The elimination of both Barcelona and Juventus from the Champions League means neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition, which this week marked a year since matches were last played in full stadiums. The end of the Messi-Ronaldo era has been approaching for some time and both going out of the Champions League, the tournament that together they dominated for so long, in the last 16 is another step closer to that point. At least one of them had made it to the quarter-finals in each of the previous 15 campaigns, although Ronaldo had gone out while Messi was injured in the latter stages in the first year of that run, when Barcelona won the trophy in 2005/06. Before that, in 2004/05, Ronaldo had just turned 20 as his Manchester United side lost to AC Milan in the last 16. Messi was still 17 and just breaking through at Barcelona as they lost to Chelsea at the same juncture. Between them they have won ...

Messi, a ‘Classico’ and an ‘Olympico’ – what to watch in Europe this weekend Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi will hope to carry on his superb recent form in La Liga, while AC Milan’s Serie A title hopes face a huge test, there are massive showdowns in Portugal and the Netherlands, and Lyon head to Marseille. AFP Sport selects some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: Messi to continue form against Sevilla? Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday 1515 GMT Barcelona were outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last 16, first leg recently, but since early December they have only lost once domestically inside 90 minutes. Undefeated in 14 in La Liga, they did lose 2-0 at Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on February 10. The teams again clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday, with fourth-placed Sevilla two points behind third-placed Barca while boasting a game in hand. Julen Lopetegui’s side may also be up against it in Europe after losing 3-2 in their Champions League first leg against Borussia Dortmund, but they have won six in a row in La Liga, keeping five straight clean sheets. However they have not faced a player of Lionel Messi’s calibre in any of these games — Messi has 15 goals in his last 14 La Liga appearances and has also scored 12 in Barcelona’s last 12 league trips to Sevilla. Porto’s last chance? Porto v Sporting, Saturday 2030 GMT If Porto are to successfully defend the Portuguese title they will surely need to end runaway leaders Sporting’s unbeaten record this season when the rivals clash at the Estadio do Dragao. Twenty games in, Sporting have 17 wins and three draws and sit 10 points clear of Porto in second. For Sporting the prospect of a first league title since 2002 is real, but they have won just once at Porto in 13 years. Ruben Amorim’s team also needed a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to Porto in the first “Classico” between the sides this season, in October. Ajax aim to pull clear PSV Eindhoven v Ajax, Sunday 1330 GMT The situation is similar in the Netherlands, with Ajax six points clear of second-placed PSV at the top, with a game in hand. Sunday’s game at the Philips Stadion is therefore a must-win for Roger Schmidt’s PSV. The clubs have already met twice in 2021. Ajax came from two down to draw 2-2 in Amsterdam in the league in January, and then won 2-1 at home in the Dutch Cup quarter-finals earlier this month with Sebastien Haller scoring twice. Erik ten Hag’s Ajax are unbeaten since Atalanta knocked them out of the Champions League group stage in early December, and are favourites to reclaim a title they won in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic led to last season being cancelled. Milan playing catch-up Roma v AC Milan, Sunday 1945 GMT Milan have lost the initiative in the Serie A title race and last weekend’s derby defeat to Inter left them four points behind their city rivals at the top. Stefano Pioli’s side had already been beaten at Spezia a week previously and, should Inter beat Genoa earlier on Sunday, the Rossoneri will be seven points behind the leaders by the time they kick off at Roma. Roma are fourth and can close to within two points of Milan with a win. Neutrals, though, will settle for a repeat of the 3-3 draw between the sides at San Siro in October, when Roma came from behind three times to earn a point. ‘Olympico’ with Lyon in title hunt Marseille v Lyon, Sunday 2000 GMT A major rivalry has developed between these clubs over the last decade, as they have competed with one another for Champions League qualification at a time when Paris Saint-Germain have dominated in France. However, Olympique Lyonnais have lost just two of their last 20 “Olympico” meetings with Olympique de Marseille, and the visitors are favourites coming into Sunday’s clash at the Velodrome. They are one of four teams in contention for the Ligue 1 title, sitting second, three points behind leaders Lille and above PSG and Monaco. Marseille, meanwhile, have slumped to seventh and are a club in crisis as they await the arrival of a new coach in Argentine Jorge Sampaoli.

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi will hope to carry on his superb recent form in La Liga, while AC Milan’s Serie A title hopes face a huge test, there are massive showdowns in Portugal and the Netherlands, and Lyon head to Marseille. AFP Sport selects some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: Messi to continue form against Sevilla? Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday 1515 GMT Barcelona were outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last 16, first leg recently, but since early December they have only lost once domestically inside 90 minutes. Undefeated in 14 in La Liga, they did lose 2-0 at Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on February 10. The teams again clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday, with fourth-placed Sevilla two points behind third-placed Barca while boasting a game in hand. Julen Lopetegui’s side may also be up against it in Europe after losing 3-2 in their Champions League first leg against Borussia Dortmund, but they have won ...

Messi, Ronaldo set to renew stellar rivalry in Champions League Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi’s rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo has enthralled football for the better part of a decade, and the pair will duel for potentially the final time when Barcelona host Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday. The two titans of the modern game, who split ownership of the Ballon d’Or between 2008-2017, were the talismans of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid until Ronaldo left the Spanish capital for Juventus in 2018. After the Portuguese forward arrived from Manchester United in 2009, El Clasico became synonymous with his rivalry with Barcelona captain Messi. Since Ronaldo’s departure, the fixture has lost some of its glamour, leaving the football world eager for the pair to be pitted against each other again. Those hopes were frustrated earlier in the group phase, with Ronaldo missing Barcelona’s 2-0 win in Turin after testing positive for Covid-19. Messi scored with a penalty. They are poised to meet again this week. Both sides have already qualified for the last 16 from Group G but Juventus can overtake Barcelona if they win at Camp Nou by three goals or more, or by any two-goal margin other than 2-0. Ronaldo and Messi are in the latter phases of their careers, at 35 and 33 respectively, but both retain their elite status. Messi has six Ballons d’Or to his name and is the current holder, while Ronaldo finished third in the 2019 awards, boasting five. – Ronaldo thriving – He is thriving in Italy, having quickly become key for Juventus, who presented him with a commemorative shirt on Saturday to recognise his 750th career goal, ahead of a 2-1 win over neighbours Torino. “Ronaldo is the top player for mentality,” his former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri told The Times. “Ronaldo has a different head to everyone. He’s won five Ballons d’Or, five Champions Leagues and one European Championship for Portugal, and that is so difficult, and it’s always him making the difference. Every year he has a new objective.” Ronaldo netted 21 goals in his debut season for Allegri to take Juventus to the title, followed by 31 last season under Maurizio Sarri as they lifted the Scudetto for the 36th time. With eight goals in six appearances this season for Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down. By contrast, Messi is struggling in Spain. The Barcelona forward tried to escape this summer but his club refused to let him leave and Messi appears an uncomfortable fit in new coach Ronald Koeman’s tactical plans, and far from his decisive best. Barcelona are enduring their worst start to a league season for 33 years and Messi’s inconsistency is part of the problem, with four goals in 10 appearances and two of those from the penalty spot. Carles Tusquets, president of the managing board in charge before club elections in January, said he would have sold Messi in the summer, economically speaking. “Financially, him leaving would been good for the club,” Tusquets told Catalunya Radio. “We’d be better off because we said that his salary is the highest in the world. Nothing could be truer.” However, the Argentina forward, who failed to find the net in a dismal 2-1 defeat by promoted side Cadiz on Saturday, remains, and the chance to joust with his old foe Ronaldo may rouse him. While Ronaldo was in Spain he and Messi drove each other to greater and greater heights, in what was football’s greatest rivalry between individuals. On Tuesday, they cross swords once again, perhaps as a last encore.

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi’s rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo has enthralled football for the better part of a decade, and the pair will duel for potentially the final time when Barcelona host Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday. The two titans of the modern game, who split ownership of the Ballon d’Or between 2008-2017, were the talismans of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid until Ronaldo left the Spanish capital for Juventus in 2018. After the Portuguese forward arrived from Manchester United in 2009, El Clasico became synonymous with his rivalry with Barcelona captain Messi. Since Ronaldo’s departure, the fixture has lost some of its glamour, leaving the football world eager for the pair to be pitted against each other again. Those hopes were frustrated earlier in the group phase, with Ronaldo missing Barcelona’s 2-0 win in Turin after testing positive for Covid-19. Messi scored with a penalty. They are poised to meet again this week. Both sides have already qual...

Messi, Barcelona remember Maradona in winning style Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona on Sunday followed the advice of coach Ronald Koeman and paid tribute to their former player Diego Maradona with an emphatic return to form in La Liga and a 4-0 victory over Osasuna. Maradona, who played two seasons for Barca, died on Wednesday aged 60. Before the match, the club played ‘The Song of the Birds’ by Catalan cellist Pablo Casals as the teams stood around the centre circle where a Maradona shirt was laid on the centre spot. Lionel Messi, who has inherited Maradona’s legendary Argentina number 10 shirt, bowed his head. Flags at the Camp Nou flew at half mast, Maradona’s image was displayed on every screen and digital advertising hoardings while a club official held a framed Maradona Barcelona shirt. The Catalans have been struggling in La Liga and started the game 14th. On Friday, Koeman said the best tribute his team could pay Maradona was to “show what we can do on the pitch”. He recalled Messi and Frenkie de Jong, who were not in the squad for Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev, and also started Antoine Griezmann, who was on the bench in Ukraine. Barcelona took the lead after 29 minutes when the ball lobbed into the net off Martin Braithwaite’s knee following a scramble in front of goal. Messi seemed to be attempting a tribute to Maradona’s famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986 as he leapt after the floating ball stretching his left arm toward it but the referee deemed he did not make contact. It was Braithwaite’s first goal at the Camp Nou and followed the Denmark forward’s midweek strike in Kiev. Griezmann scored with a powerful left-foot volley from outside the box in the 42nd minute. The France World Cup winner then passed up a shooting chance in the 56th minute to roll a pass across the goal and set up a tap-in for Philippe Coutinho. As Barcelona rediscovered their cutting edge, Ousmane Dembele had a strike ruled out for offside. Messi got his goal in the 74th minute with a dazzling strike. He picked up the ball in midfield, danced past two defenders and smashed a rising left-foot shot into the top far corner. He celebrated by pulling off his Barcelona shirt to reveal a vintage Newell’s Old Boys jersey from Maradona’s one season with the club in Rosario, Argentina. “It was a great moment,” said Koeman. “Leo’s goal, his gesture dedicated to Maradona.” “It was something very big. We Europeans don’t realise how big Maradona is in Argentina.” Earlier this week, Newell’s tweeted a photograph from Maradona’s debut showing a six-year-old local prodigy, in the same black and red shirt, doing ball tricks for the crowd at half-time. That boy was Messi. Barcelona climbed to eighth, still nine points behind leaders Real Sociedad, who play later, and Atletico Madrid.

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona on Sunday followed the advice of coach Ronald Koeman and paid tribute to their former player Diego Maradona with an emphatic return to form in La Liga and a 4-0 victory over Osasuna. Maradona, who played two seasons for Barca, died on Wednesday aged 60. Before the match, the club played ‘The Song of the Birds’ by Catalan cellist Pablo Casals as the teams stood around the centre circle where a Maradona shirt was laid on the centre spot. Lionel Messi, who has inherited Maradona’s legendary Argentina number 10 shirt, bowed his head. Flags at the Camp Nou flew at half mast, Maradona’s image was displayed on every screen and digital advertising hoardings while a club official held a framed Maradona Barcelona shirt. The Catalans have been struggling in La Liga and started the game 14th. On Friday, Koeman said the best tribute his team could pay Maradona was to “show what we can do on the pitch”. He recalled Messi and Frenkie de Jong, who were not in the squad...

Messi, Inter, Camavinga — what to look out for in Europe this weekend Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi will be back in a Barcelona shirt in La Liga, while Inter Milan begin their bid to end Juventus’ grip on the Serie A title and potential challengers face off in Germany and France. AFP Sport picks out some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: – Eyes on Messi on Koeman debut – Barcelona v Villarreal, Sunday 1900 GMT Lionel Messi is staying at Barcelona for at least one more year and on Sunday he will be the centre of attention as the Catalans belatedly kick off their campaign in La Liga. The game, behind closed doors, against Unai Emery’s Villarreal is also new coach Ronald Koeman’s first competitive outing in charge after one of the most turbulent summers in Barcelona’s history. While Messi stayed against his will, Luis Suarez has departed for Atletico Madrid, following Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo out of the door. Miralem Pjanic and the Portuguese international Trincao have come in. Barcelona are a team in transition but there is no doubt that, as long as Messi is still there, anything is possible. “Barca are a great side. I’m pleased that Messi has stayed and that we will continue to enjoy having him in La Liga,” said Emery, whose own team has already played twice, winning one and drawing one. – Inter with point to prove – Inter Milan v Fiorentina, Saturday 1845 GMT Antonio Conte’s Inter get their Serie A campaign underway against Fiorentina at San Siro having been given the opening weekend off due to their run to the Europa League final last month. The Nerazzurri lost that game to Sevilla and also finished a point behind Juventus in the Serie A title race, so now their aim is to end the Turin side’s long domination of Italian football. With Juve having beaten Sampdoria 3-0 in Andrea Pirlo’s first game as a coach, Inter need to get off to a good start and there will be plenty of focus on the new arrivals: Vidal but also Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan full-back signed from Real Madrid for 40 million euros ($44.9m) after impressing on loan at Borussia Dortmund. – Bayern’s rivals left to rebuild – Bayer Leverkusen v RB Leipzig, Saturday 1330 GMT The Bundesliga is a hugely entertaining league but once again there are doubts as to whether any team can seriously threaten Bayern Munich’s hegemony. Dortmund are the most likely contenders, while it remains to be seen if Leverkusen or Leipzig can mount a real challenge this time. Leipzig finished third last season and reached the Champions League semi-finals. Leverkusen were fifth, just behind Borussia Moenchengladbach. Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig remain the last team to hold Bayern while Peter Bosz’s Leverkusen are the last side to beat the Bavarians in Munich. But both teams lost their star player over the summer, with Leipzig’s Timo Werner and Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz moving to Chelsea. So can they successfully replace them and compete again? Leipzig this week paid Crystal Palace 20 million euros ($23m) for Alexander Sorloth, who is a direct Werner replacement. Meanwhile, Leverkusen recently signed Czech forward Patrik Schick from Roma. He was on loan at Leipzig last season. Nagelsmann’s side were 3-1 winners against Mainz on the opening weekend but Leverkusen were held 0-0 at Wolfsburg. Saturday’s clash, before a limited crowd, will provide a measure of where both sides currently stand. – Can somebody new challenge in France? – Saint-Etienne v Rennes, Saturday 1500 GMT While Paris Saint-Germain have endured a slow start to their French title defence having been handicapped by a coronavirus outbreak, suspensions and injuries, there is a fresh look for now at the top of Ligue 1. Saint-Etienne and Rennes are level on points at the summit and they meet on Saturday amid hope that this campaign does not simply turn into another PSG procession. Nobody realistically believes Saint-Etienne can add to their record tally of 10 titles though, even if manager Claude Puel is so far enjoying some success after overhauling his squad and promoting youth. Rennes are a more interesting case, and not just because in 17-year-old midfielder Eduardo Camavinga they have possibly the hottest young property in world football. The Brittany side finished third in the last, curtailed season and have been busy investing ahead of a first appearance in the Champions League. They have just sold goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to Chelsea, but they are certainly going to be worth watching this season.

Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi will be back in a Barcelona shirt in La Liga, while Inter Milan begin their bid to end Juventus’ grip on the Serie A title and potential challengers face off in Germany and France. AFP Sport picks out some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: – Eyes on Messi on Koeman debut – Barcelona v Villarreal, Sunday 1900 GMT Lionel Messi is staying at Barcelona for at least one more year and on Sunday he will be the centre of attention as the Catalans belatedly kick off their campaign in La Liga. The game, behind closed doors, against Unai Emery’s Villarreal is also new coach Ronald Koeman’s first competitive outing in charge after one of the most turbulent summers in Barcelona’s history. While Messi stayed against his will, Luis Suarez has departed for Atletico Madrid, following Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo out of the door. Miralem Pjanic and the Portuguese international Trincao have come in. Barcelona are a team in transition but the...