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Champions League team of the week: Lionel Messi stars as Liverpool and Tottenham flop
LIONEL MESSI’s spectacular free-kick capped off a fine performance for Barcelona as the Catalan giants saw off Liverpool with a 3-0 first-leg win, whilst Ajax secured a vital 1-0 win away at Tottenham, but who made Express Sport’s team of the week?
Liverpool vs Barcelona: Klopp praises Messi for 600th goal
Lionel Messi hit a double at the Nou Camp last night, as Barcelona put one foot in the Champions League final with their 3-0 win.
Luis Suarez also scored an impressive goal against his former side, as he flicked Jordi Alba’s cross past Alisson Becker in the first half.
Liverpool fought their way back into the game, and ended up creating enough chances, but failed to convert any of them.
And they were made to rue their missed chances in the final stages of the game, as Messi tapped in with 15 minutes remaining after Suarez hit the crossbar.
Minutes later, the Argentine closed the game out in style, after scoring the goal which could see Barca through to the final with his free-kick.
And speaking after the game, Jurgen Klopp admitted that there was nothing more his side could have done to deal with the threat Messi provides.
“In these moments he is unstoppable,” he said regarding the free-kick.
“We couldn’t defend the free kick. What a strike.
“The second goal was probably not the nicest in the career of Lionel Messi but it shows his skills that he is even there in that moment.
“Apart from that I was happy in how we defended the whole Barcelona team. I am a big admirer of them, as is everybody, but my boys didn’t show too much respect, they were there every time.
“We played football and I liked that. I knew before that Lionel was a world‑class player and now I saw it again I am not too surprised.”
Meanwhile Tottenham’s hopes of reaching the final took a blow on Tuesday night after Donny van de Beek’s effort earned Ajax a 1-0 win.
The Dutch side looked good quality for the win, and are in the driving seat for next week’s second leg after a mature performance at Tottenham’s new stadium.
Ajax went ahead after 15 minutes after van de Beek was left alone in the Spurs penalty area, before slotting past Hugo Lloris.
Ajax are now favourites to win the tie now having eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus in the previous two rounds - but who makes Express Sport's best Champions League XI this week?
Tottenham Hotspur vs Ajax: Pochettino reacts to 1-0 loss
Express Sport's Champions League Team of the Week
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen - Barcelona
RB: Joel Veltman - Ajax
CB: Matthijs de Ligt - Ajax
CB: Gerard Pique - Barcelona
LB: Jordi Alba - Barcelona
CM: Ivan Rakitic - Barcelona
CM: Frankie De Jong - Ajax
CM: James Milner - Liverpool
CAM: Donny van de Beek - Ajax
ST: Lionel Messi - Barcelona
ST: Luis Suarez - Barcelona