Barcelona vs Liverpool: Michael Owen makes BOLD prediction for Champions League first leg

Salah and Messi

Barcelona vs Liverpool: Michael Owen has made his prediction for the clash.
BARCELONA will struggle to cope with Liverpool’s pace and power when the two teams meet in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

That is the view of former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who thinks that Jurgen Klopp’s men can come away from the Nou Camp with a draw.
The two teams put on dominant displays in their quarter-final ties with their big game players coming to the fore once again.

Barcelona beat Manchester United 4-0 on aggregate with Lionel Messi bagging twice in the second leg at home.
Liverpool on the other hand beat Porto 6-1 on aggregate with goals from Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah.

“Barcelona retained their La Liga title when they beat Levante at the Camp Nou on Saturday, but I feel they will struggle to cope with the pace and power of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah midweek,” Owen said.

Michael Owen

“I expect the Reds to get a draw from another entertaining tie.
“Barca are unbeaten in 31 home Champions League games but the Reds have never lost at the Camp Nou in four previous visits (W2 D2) and I expect Jurgen Klopp’s side to maintain that sequence on Wednesday.
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“Lionel Messi has scored 24 goals in 32 Champions League games against Premier League opposition, but he has failed to score in his two previous games against Liverpool.
“Messi showed against Manchester United in the quarter-final 2nd leg that he remains at the very top of his game.
“How Liverpool cope with the little magician might be the key to the tie.”
Klopp will be hoping to at least score an away goal in the first leg but will be quietly confident of avoiding defeat also.

That said, the Reds have not been at their best away from home in this season’s competition.

They lost all three of their group stage away trips to Napoli, Red Star Belgrade, and Paris Saint-Germain.
But they have improved in the knockout stage, beating Bayern Munich and Porto in the away leg