Chelsea vs Barcelona: Antonio Conte opts not to play a striker in Champions League home clash against Spanish giants

Watch free The Goldfinch 2019 Online

CHELSEA will line up against Barcelona without a recognised striker - and have been blasted for it on Twitter.

Once again boss Antonio Conte will go with the "false 9" formation, despite the fact they are at home and realistically need to score before heading to the Nou Camp.

Antonio Conte has gone without a recognised striker again for Chelsea against BarcelonaCredit: EPA

And social media thinks that sitting back against a team filled with world class stars will not work out too well for the West London outfit.

It looks as though Eden Hazard will play as the most advanced, supported by Willian and Pedro either side.

Adam writes that "Conte has lost the macth" with the formation, despite it not even kicking off yet.

Joe Wilson says that it "will bite Chelsea on the arse not playing a proper striker", while Anthony Williams describes it as "unforgivable from Conte" not playing a proper striker.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte gets a Man United shirt with his name on the back at press conference

Many fans were left scratching their heads at the line-up, with 80m worth of striking talent named on the bench.

Alvaro Morata, who cost the Blues 60m in the summer is alongside recent acquisition from Arsenal, 20m Olivier Giroud.

And it's not the first time Conte has gone with the "false 9" formation in recent games.

However, against Watford and Bournemouth it backfired spectacularly as the Blues were thumped in both.

What Lionel Messi warned referee of Barcelona vs Chelsea after being told to calm down in Champions League clash

Stream The Goldfinch 2019 Online free

LIONEL MESSI reportedly warned the referee in charge of Barcelona's win over Chelsea: Don't speak badly to me.

The Nou Camp superstar complained to Damir Skomina about a first-half decision which went against the home side.

Lionel Messi reportedly told referee Damir Skomina not to 'speak badly' to himCredit: Reuters

Skomina said: "Leo, turn it down."

But according to reports, Messi, 30, snapped back at the official.

It was Chelsea who felt more aggrieved during the 3-0 defeat when the ref waved away Marcos Alonso's penalty appeal with the score at 2-0.

The Spaniard went down under contact from Gerard Pique.

Referee Damir Skomina tells Lionel Messi to calm down during Chelsea clashCredit: Alamy Live News

Lionel Messi is helped up by referee Damir Skomina during Chelsea clashCredit: AP:Associated Press

Referee Damir Skomina came under fire for his performance during Barcelona's win over ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated Press

Footage shows the Barca defender had a hold of his countryman's arm with Alonso through on goal.

Chelsea legend Michael Ballack slammed Skomina for the decision to play on.

---

SAFETY HAZARD Chelsea fans blast Barcelona after being made to cross rickety 20ft bridge after Champions League defeat at Nou Camp

---

He tweeted: "Same old story #referee"

Messi scored twice and Ousmane Dembele netted his first Barca goal to win the Champions League tie 4-1 on aggregate.

Antonio Conte shook hands with the Argentina ace after the match and praised him on his performance.

He said: "I congratulated him.

"We're talking about a player that keeps making the difference in an obvious way.

"We're talking about a player who can alter a result and that's what he did in the two games we played. Messi was the difference in both."

The Champions League quarter-final draw takes place today at 11am.

Antonio Conte heaps praise on Lionel Messi after he helps Barcelona knock Chelsea out of Europe

Lionel Messi makes mockery of PSVs plans to stop him with stunning free-kick

Streaming The Goldfinch 2019 Full Online

PSV did everything they could to prepare for Lionel Messi - but it was not good enough.

The Dutch outfit had a man crouching behind the wall for a 31st-minute free-kick in case the superstar tried to go underneath.

PSV positioned a man behind the wall but he was no use as Lionel Messi curled up and overCredit: Reuters

But Hirving Lozano was left watching alongside his team-mates as Messi effortlessly curled the ballinto the top corner.

Barcelona took a one-goal lead thanks to the stunning effort as they look to begin their European campaign with an away win.

And Messi, 31, jumped back in front of rival Cristiano Ronaldo for most goals in the Champions League group stages, extending his lead with a close-range second.

The Argentina star now has 63 strikesin 64 games, with the return against PSV as well as clashes with Tottenham and Inter Milan to come.

The brilliant effort put Barcelona ahead before half-timeCredit: AFP or licensors

Lionel Messi wheels away after his 61st goal in 64 group matchesCredit: AFP or licensors

Messi has a point to prove after Argentina's World Cup flop saw him not nominated for Fifa's The Best awards.

And he made a real point of reminding the world just how good he is by completing his hat-trick in 87th minute after an assist from Luis Suarez.

That saw him become the first player to score eight hat-tricks in the Champions League.

Luka Modric held off competition from Ronaldo and Mo Salah to be crowned winner of The Best award in the end.

Shooting under the wall has been used by several players to sneak a goalCredit: Reuters

Barcelona stars including Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho train ahead of Champions League opener with PSV

Meanwhile, David Beckham's Inter Miami have ben linked with a sensational swoop for Messi.

The new franchise will join the MLS in 2020 and want to make an instant splash.

Liverpools Virgil van Dijk admits he has no idea how to stop Lionel Messi ahead of Champions League semi-final vs Barcelona

Free Movie Streaming Sites

VIRGIL VAN DIJK admits he has no idea how Liverpool will stop Lionel Messi in the Champions League.

The Dutch defender grabbed the fourth as the Reds romped to a 4-1 win in Porto last night to seal a 6-1 triumph on aggregate to set-up a semi-final clash with Barcelona.

Virgil van Dijk admits he has no idea how to stop Lionel Messi when Liverpool face Barcelona in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty

Now the worlds most-expensive centre-back, 27, is faced with the task of stopping one of the greatest, if not the best ever, strikers.

And he did not try to hide the fact he and his Liverpool team-mates know they face a huge challenge in the last four.

When quizzed about it after the demolition job in Porto, Van Dijk insisted that he will need help from the whole Anfield side in order to advance to the final for the second-successive year.

He said: How are we going to do it (stop Messi)? I dont know, well see.

Its going to be a great match-up for all of us.

Its about doing it all together, its never one vs one, its never just me against a particular striker.

Its always us against everyone and I think thats the only way we can defend well.

Van Dijk is one of the leading contenders to be crowned footballer of the year.

The ex-Celtic and Southampton man has shone against everyone who has come up against him.

But he knows his greatest challenge now lies ahead in Messi.

Van Dijk added: Its going to be very hard and I think hes the best player in the world but well see.

The Argentine magician and his Barcelona colleagues welcome Van Dijk and Liverpool to the Nou Camp for the first-leg on Wednesday, May 1.

The La Liga giants then make the trip to Anfield six days later to determine who will meet either Tottenham or Ajax at Atletico Madrids Wanda Metropolitano on June 1 in the final.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confident defender Virgil van Dijk fit to face his former side Southampton on Friday

Barcelona vs Roma: Live streaming, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League tie

How to watch films The Goldfinch 2019 free online

BARCELONA play host to Roma in the first leg of theirChampions Leaguequarter-final - and the La Liga leaders will be expecting a win.

Excluding qualifiers, the visitors have won just once in their previous 13 away games in Europe's top club competition.

Lionel Messi has scored17 goals in 17 Champions League appearances for Barcelona this seasonCredit: AFP

The teams meet for the fifth time in the Champions League, with both so far enjoying one win and two games ending in a draw.

Since the start of 2013-14, Barcelona havent lost a European match at the Nou Camp, winning 23 and drawing two.

In this period theyve outscored their opponents 77-12.

What time is the kick-off?

The action gets underway on Wednesday, April 4.

It will take place at the Nou Camp.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Which TV channel is the match on and can I live stream it?

The Champions League quarter-final is live on BT Sport 3.

Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all of the action on the SunSport LIVE BLOG.

What is the team news?

Weekend Roundup: Watch all the action from the Premier League games this weekend

Madrid-bound Man Utd and Arsenal fans can move weekends away to Siberia during Liverpool vs Tottenham Champions League final

Watch this free The Goldfinch 2019

ARSENAL and Manchester United fans that have booked a weekend getaway to Madrid for June 1 have been offered the chance to change their destination.

Liverpool and Tottenham will compete in the Spanish capital for the Champions League title at the start of next month - where at least 50,000 supporters are expected to converge.

The Champions League final will be held at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano on June 1Credit: EPA

And should fans of Arsenal and United not fancy being surrounded by the supporters of their arch-rivals, one travel agent is offering them an escape route.

Travel Republic will allow one willing customer to switch their destination to Siberia - where you can be sure that you will be away from the all celebrations and singing in Madrid.

While fans also have the option of changing their trip to either Valencia, Bilbao or Seville.

Managing Director at Travel Republic Frank Rejwan said: For the next three weeks there will be little respite from gloating Spurs and Liverpool fans at work, in the pub and every time people turn on the radio or open a paper.

Normally a weekend in Madrid would be the chance to get away from it all and have a great time.

"But if you are an Arsenal or Man Utd fan then this could turn into a hellish weekend away.

"Travel Republic have the broadest range of holidays in Spain and worldwide, so we are pleased to offer our customers the opportunity to make changes to their plans away from Madrid and to discover some of Spains other great cities or get away from it completely to the solitude and relatively football free oasis of Siberia.

Jurgen Klopp - who is still yet to win a trophy with the Reds - has guided Liverpool to back-to-back Champions League finals.

While Spurs have reached their first European Cup final as they look to win their first piece of silverware since 2008.

History was made on Thursday night as Chelsea and the Gunners reached the final of the Europa League, meaning four English sides will compete in Europe's two major finals for the first time.

The heart-breaking moment Ajax fans count down final seconds of injury time only to be silenced by Tottenham winner

Klopp in handshake row with Kovac after Liverpools stalemate against Bayern

Stream The Goldfinch 2019 Online free

JURGEN KLOPP let rip at Niko Kovac after the Bayern managers handshake snub.

The Liverpool boss yelled at Kovac then revealed he was not over the moon with this Champions League result.

Jurgen Klopp and Niko Kovac had a heated debate after the final whistleCredit: EPA

Klopp, whose team go to Munich on March 13, said: I wanted to shake Nikos hand immediately. He went and shook all of the Bayern players hands.

When he came back I said I was waiting. But he apologised and I said no problem. It was a pure misunderstanding. I stood there like the ox in front of the mountain.

To clear up any further misunderstanding, in Germany people say that when they are baffled!

And Kovac admitted: Its common in England to shake hands after the final whistle. But first I am to my bench and not to him.

He knows that differently from England. But it was not meant to be bad, I apologised after that.

Jurgen Klopp was upset his hand was not shaken before the Bayern benchCredit: Reuters

Both managers said the row was behind them following the matchCredit: Reuters

Liverpools normally-rampant attack were also left frustrated after this last-16 first-leg draw.

Klopp added: It is not the result or game we dreamed of. I am not over the moon but I am completely okay.

This is the best draw you can get but, yes, we can play better, we should play better. It was a big fight.

We had better chances in the first half and I cannot remember any chances in the second half for either side.

Jurgen Klopp admitted he wanted better than a 0-0 stalemateCredit: AP:Associated Press

But it is absolutely okay. The tie is not over. We have a base for the second leg.

It is not a game you will remember in 20 years but that is the result and we will work with that.

I am sure Bayern will feel better than we do. A 0-0 is not perfect but we can work with that.

Klopp and Kovac did end up shaking handsCredit: Getty - Contributor

After a tense contest, tempers flared after the final whistleCredit: Reuters

Liverpool still defended well without key man Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho impressed as a stand-in.

Klopp, now preparing for Sundays clash at Manchester United, added: It is a clean sheet without the big man and not a lot of people would have expected that.

We were playing against an outstanding side. Lets now recover and play United.

Midfielder Jordan Henderson said: It is not the worst result in the world.

We have to go there and put on a performance. We have to be confident. We know how good they are. I feel we can go and hurt them.

Left-back Andy Robertson said: The tie is well and truly alive and we have to go over there and believe.