Lionel Messi among eight Barcelona players rested this weekend ahead of Liverpool return leg
Barcelona have rested Lionel Messi and seven more first-team players for Saturday’s La Liga game away to Celta Vigo as the Catalans look ahead to their Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday.
Ernesto Valverde’s side clinched the title with a 1-0 win at home to Levante last weekend and will make the Champions League their main priority now, along with next month's Copa del Rey final.
Barca beat Liverpool 3-0 at Camp Nou on Wednesday night and ahead of their trip to Anfield on Tuesday, Valverde has given Messi and a number of others players the weekend off.
The Argentine will play no part at Balaidos on Saturday evening, with Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets also left out, along with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
In Pictures | Barcelona vs Liverpool, Champions League | 01/05/2019
Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele, Arturo Vidal, Arthur and Clement Lenglet are all included in the 18-man squad for the trip to Vigo, which also includes youngsters Riqui Puig, Moussa Wague and Alex Collado.
Jasper Cillessen will start in goal for Valverde’s side, giving the Dutch international some match practice ahead of the Copa final against Valencia on May 25th.
