Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the visitors fell behind after just 128 seconds in the Nou Camp as Lionel Messi shot through the legs of Thibaut Courtois from a tight angle.

Messi then set up Ousmane Dembele to hammer home the second after Cesc Fabregas lost possession.

Marcos Alonso hit the post for Chelsea with a free-kick before Messi’s 100th Champions League goal – after a mistake by Cesar Azpilicueta – took the hosts out of sight.

Alonso was then denied a penalty after a challenge by Gerard Pique as Barcelona joined La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Sevilla in Friday’s quarter-final draw.

Chelsea, meanwhile, join fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United and Tottenham in exiting in the first knockout round.

What next for Conte? 

Chelsea’s elimination by the five-time winners is bound to add to the speculation about manager Antonio Conte’s future.

The Blues’ hopes of retaining the Premier League title ended weeks ago, and they may not even secure the top-four finish they need to return to the Champions League.

Conte’s side are fifth in the table, four points behind Liverpool, with their next league game at home to third-placed Tottenham on 1 April.

They head to Leicester on Sunday for an FA Cup quarter-final knowing defeat will leave them without a trophy for the second time in three seasons.

Conte, who has been in charge since the summer of 2016, has a contract until the summer of 2019 but has had to deny reports of a rift with the club’s owners.

Speaking last month, the 48-year-old Italian said it is his “intention, will and desire” to stay at Stamford Bridge.

However, Chelsea have lost four of their past six league games, including back-to-back defeats by Bournemouth and Watford.

What’s next? 

Chelsea visit Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday (16:30 GMT). Barcelona return to the Nou Camp on Sunday (15:15) as they look to take another big step towards winning La Liga.

–

Source: BBC

The post Messi scores twice as Barcelona knock Chelsea out of Champions League appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Messi’s superb first-half free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner took his club tally to 539 goals and he also has 61 for Argentina.

Luis Suarez could have added a second but his chip sailed narrowly wide.

Substitute Kevin Gameiro thought he had levelled for Atletico late on, but the goal was ruled out for offside

Diego Costa provided the knock down for Gameiro’s close-range finish, but the former Chelsea striker was adjudged to be in an offside position.

The visitors were second best for large periods in the match and had just one effort on target, a looping Saul Niguez header that was comfortable for goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to deal with.

In the context of the season, this was a huge victory for Ernesto Valverde’s side against their nearest title rivals, as they close in on their ninth title triumph in 14 seasons with 11 games left to play.

They remain on course to secure a treble of trophies, with their Champions League last-16 second-leg against Chelsea taking place on 14 March and the Spanish Cup final against Sevilla next month.

Record goalscorer Messi made the difference again, taking his tally to 28 for the season and Barcelona’s 100th in all competitions this season.

They could have had more but the impressive Philippe Coutinho had a couple of efforts kept out by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, while Suarez saw a close-range strike chalked off for offside.

The only blemish for Barca saw skipper Andres Iniesta hobble off in the first half with the club saying he suffered a hamstring injury that requires tests to see how long he will be out for with the Champions League second leg against Chelsea on 14 March.

Barcelona travel to Malaga in their next league game on Saturday (kick-off 19:45 GMT)

–

Source: BBC Sport

The post Messi scores 600th goal in Barcelona win over Atletico Madrid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Coutinho, making his fifth appearance since a £142m move from Liverpool, came on in the second half and acrobatically steered home from Luis Suarez’s cross.

That put Barca, cup winners in the past three years, 2-0 up on aggregate in the semi-final second leg in Valencia, before Ivan Rakitic added another.

Barca will face Sevilla in the final.

Valencia – who are third in La Liga, 18 points behind leaders Barca – had two key chances but were well beaten by a team that looks certain to win the league title.

At 0-0, striker Rodrigo headed against the crossbar while Jasper Cillessen produced a stunning instinctive save to deny full-back Jose Luis Gaya from point-blank range following Coutinho’s opener.

After Rakitic coolly rounded off a late counter attack, finishing from Suarez’s pass, Barca brought on 23-year-old Colombian defender Yerry Mina – a £10.4m January signing from Palmeiras – for his debut.

Sevilla, sixth in the Spanish table 25 points behind the leaders, reached their second Copa del Rey final in three seasons with a 3-1 aggregate win over La Liga rivals Leganes.

Barca have won the competition three times in a row since losing to Real Madrid in the 2014 final.

–

Source: BBC

The post Coutinho off the mark as Barcelona reach Copa final appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 25-year-old is set to join the Spanish giants after a £142m deal was agreed with Liverpool on Saturday.

He took part in a brief photo session at the Nou Camp after Barcelona’s 3-0 win against Levante on Sunday.

Coutinho will officially sign his contract at 11:30 GMT on Monday before being presented to the public.

“Hi Barca fans, I am already here, it is a dream come true and I hope to see you tomorrow, ” he said in a video message on Twitter.

Later, in an interview with BarcaTV, Coutinho added he was excited to be soon playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

“It is incredible to know that I am going to live with idols, players with a lot of history,” he said.

“Footballers like Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, [Andres] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique, [Sergio] Busquets.

“I am very happy to be able to live together, to be able to learn from them and be able to win together.”

The playmaker will sign a five-and-half year deal and will have a buyout clause of 400m euros (£355m).

It is one of the most expensive transfers of all time, eclipsed only by the £200m Paris St-Germain paid Barcelona for Neymar last summer, and the £165.7m Kylian Mbappe will cost PSG at the end of his initial loan spell from Monaco.

Valverde on his £142m man

Speaking after the Levante game, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde said it was “too soon” to determine where Coutinho will play in his side.

It has been speculated that he could play alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack or become 33-year-old midfielder Andres Iniesta’s long-term successor.

“We can take advantage of his versatility,” Valverde said.

“He scores and sets up goals, and going forward he can help us a lot as he can play both inside and out wide.”

Valverde is confident Coutinho can improve a side that is nine points clear at the top of La Liga.

“I think he can bring a lot to the team,” he added.

“He is here now, and good luck to him, because if he has luck then it will be good for us.”

Barcelona midfielder Paulinho plays alongside Coutinho for Brazil and is looking forward to linking up with his compatriot at club level.

“He is a great player, a magnificent player,” the former Tottenham player said.

“I am certain he will really help Barca to attain our objectives this season.

“We hope to see him playing for us as soon as possible.”

–

Source: BBC

The post Philippe Coutinho says £142m Barcelona move is a ‘dream come true’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Messi opened the scoring at the Nou Camp, chipping the ball to Jordi Alba and volleying home the return.

His 365th La Liga goal equalled Gerd Muller’s record for goals in a single one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Luis Suarez produced a superb strike before half-time and Paulinho tapped in a third in second-half stoppage time.

Suarez stepped over Messi’s low ball across the six-yard box, affording Paulinho a simple finish for his seventh league goal of the season.

Suarez, took his own tally to 11 and could have added more but for a fine Oier save in the second period.

Aside from a Marc-Andre ter Stergen save to keep out Shaquell Moore in a one-on-one opportunity, Barca eased to victory, extending their run to 26 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Messi’s goal – his 16th in La Liga this season – means he needs to score just once more to surpass the record Muller set while playing for Bundesliga side Bayern Munich between 1964 and 1979.

The three points cancelled out second-placed Atletico Madrid’s win over Getafe on Saturday to restore a nine-point advantage.

The success also arrived in a good-news week for the club as they finally landed long-term transfer target Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, with the Brazilian set to be confirmed as a Barca player imminently.

It is not yet clear how Coutinho will fit into Barca’s line-up, with some predicting he will be a long-term replacement for 33-year-old midfielder Andres Iniesta, who made his 650th club appearance.

Coutinho was not at the game, with reports in Spain suggesting he will complete a medical at Barcelona on Monday with a presentation to follow soon after.

–

Source: BBC Sport

The post Messi, Suarez on target as Barcelona sweep past Levante appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Lionel Messi provided two assists but was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet himself as he hit the woodwork three times and missed a penalty.

First, Suarez tapped in Messi’s pass before Paulinho struck after the Argentine’s shot came back off the bar.

Suarez’s close-range finish made it 3-0 and Paulinho was again on hand to stab in when Jordi Alba hit the post.

Messi’s chance from the spot came just before Barcelona scored their fourth.

Suarez was fouled inside the box by Federico Valverde and, despite being on a hat-trick, he let Messi step up for the spot kick but the Argentina forward’s effort was kept out by Ruben Martinez.

The two goals for Paulinho, meanwhile, means he is on six for the season following the former Tottenham midfielder’s £36m arrival from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande in August.

Real Madrid were not in La Liga action at the weekend due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, which they won for a third time, equalling Barcelona’s record.

It means Barcelona are 11 points clear of Zinedine Zidane’s side ahead of Saturday’s fixture between the two sides at the Bernabeu (12:00 GMT).

–

Source: BBC Sport

The post Suarez, Paulinho net doubles as Barcelona go six points clear appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Premier League leaders Manchester City will play Switzerland’s Basel, Manchester United face La Liga side Sevilla and Liverpool take on Portugal’s Porto.

Holders Real Madrid will face Paris St-Germain.

A record five English teams progressed from the group stage this season.

Chelsea were the only English team to make it through as runners-up, with the other four sides all topping their respective groups.

The Blues have arguably been handed the most difficult tie, and it comes days after boss Antonio Conte conceded that their Premier League title defence was over following their defeat by West Ham, which left them 14 points adrift of Manchester City.

However, Chelsea did beat Barcelona in the semi-finals before lifting the Champions League trophy in 2012.

Real Madrid, who are aiming for a 13th title and third in a row, were given a tough draw against big-spending PSG after finishing behind Tottenham in Group H.

The group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 13/14 and 20/21 February, and at home in the return matches on 6/7 and 13/14 March.

The final will take place in Kiev on 26 May.

Champions League last-16 draw

Juventus v Tottenham (13 February and 7 March)

Basel v Manchester City (13 February and 7 March)

Porto v Liverpool (14 February and 6 March)

Sevilla v Manchester United (21 February and 13 March)

Real Madrid v PSG (14 February and 6 March)

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma (21 February and 13 March)

Chelsea v Barcelona (20 February and 14 March)

Bayern Munich v Besiktas (20 February and 14 March)

–

Source: BBC Sport

The post UCL draw: Chelsea to face Barcelona, Real Madrid battle PSG appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 25-year-old had a transfer request rejected in August, as the Reds turned down three bids from the La Liga club.

“I do not know how the future is going to be,” said the forward, who signed a five-year deal at the start of 2017.

“What will happen in January, we will know it in January. I do not know if there will be an offer.”

Barcelona targeted Coutinho after selling his fellow Brazilian Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record fee of £200m.

Liverpool said the playmaker was not for sale and rejected bids of £72m, £90m and one in the region of £114m prior to the transfer deadline in Spain, which closed a day later than in England.

After missing the start of the season through injury, Coutinho has since scored nine goals in 13 appearances – including a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 7-0 thrashing of Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.

He continued: “Last summer there was a job offer in the same way that happens with any employee and I was interested in it. Since I stayed I have played with will and desire.

“Of course a lot happened in the summer but my will is always to play and do the best wherever I am – that has not changed.

“I am here (at Liverpool), we have a lot of games and I try to do my best to help. I always do my best when I have the opportunity to play, respecting the jersey and the supporters.”

–

Source: BBC

The post Philippe Coutinho admits to Barcelona interest appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The hosts, who move up to eighth in the table, played 65 minutes with 10 men after Mauro Arambarri was sent off for a second booking.

Markel Bergara scored the only goal, with his 25-yard strike deflecting in off Gabriel Paulista.

Dani Parejo almost levelled when his free-kick struck the base of a post.

Simone Zaza, who is the joint second top scorer in the league, missed a glorious chance to equalise deep into injury time, when he headed over from close range.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Leganes moved up to seventh by scoring three times in the last 18 minutes to beat sixth-placed Villarreal 3-1.

Atletico Madrid, who are one point below Valencia, were the only top-four team to win in La Liga this weekend – coming from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Saturday.

Barcelona drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo and Real Madrid were held 0-0 by Athletic Bilbao.

–

Source: BBC

The post Valencia defeat leaves Barcelona five points clear appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 30-year-old Argentina international’s deal now runs until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Since joining the club at the age of 13, Messi has helped Barcelona win eight Spanish league titles and won the Champions League four times.

Messi, whose previous deal was due to expire next year, has scored 523 goals in 602 appearances for the club.

He was presented with his fourth European Golden Shoe on Friday – the award given to the highest scorer in European club football – after finding the net 37 times in the Spanish league last season.

The club announced in July that Messi had agreed a new deal, after he had reportedly rejected an initial offer in May.

In a statement, the club said Messi “still has a lot more to give, which is music to the ears of all Barca fans who will get to continue marvelling at his greatness”.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said, “We are in luck with the Barça players. We continue to enjoy the best player in the history of football.”

–

Source: BBC

The post Messi signs new Barcelona deal with £626m buyout clause appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.