The Argentine right-hander took a heavy blow from Kalidou Koulibaly in the first half, and took care of injuries after a winning performance
Barcelona head coach Quique Setien has supported Lionel Messi to make the cut for Bayern Munich after falling during his Champions League last-16 victory over Napoli.
Goals from Clement Lenglet, Messi and Luis Suarez secured a 3-1 victory for Barca at Camp Nou on Saturday and a 4-2 overall victory.
Barca led 3-0 and had another goal through Messi that was not allowed for the handball in the first half, and although Lorenzo Insigne’s penalty shortly before the interval gave Napoli some hope, they could not return. find in the match against a reluctant Blaugrana.
Indeed, Barca’s biggest shock of the evening came when Messi fell from a heavy kick to his calf while winning a penalty against Kalidou Koulibaly, who Suarez stepped in to convert when his captain received treatment. .
However, Setien is confident that the Argentine will be fit to face Bayern, who beat Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate, in Friday’s quarter-final.
“He took a strong hit, but he looks ok. It will need treatment, but I do not think it will be a problem,” he said. Movistar when asked about Messi’s fitness.
“It will be a very difficult game. They have gone a tie with a margin of six goals. They are a great team and it will be a great game.”
Setien insists that Barca had their Champions League-16 second leg against Napoli under perfect control – even though he felt nervous on the touchline.
Barca have sustained nightmare second-leg losses to Liverpool and Roma over the past two seasons, so Setien was particularly pleased with the way their performances were under pressure from Napoli, even though he did not always put his fears into action. could keep holes.
“It was what we were looking for, to take the first step and wait for the rest of the games with the same excitement with which we faced these,” he added.
“We were very good and we deserve the victory.
13 – @FCBarcelona have advanced to the quarterfinals in each of the last 13 #ChampionsLeague seasons, failed for the last time in campaign 06/07 under Frank Rijkaard. No other team has done it at least eight times in a row in the competition history. Lisbon. pic.twitter.com/jyFo6Me43Z
– OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 8, 2020
“It’s true they compromised us in the opening minutes. Napoli are a really good team – it’s not easy to do what we did. They are one of the best teams in Italy.
“We controlled it perfectly, we had a very good first half and in the second they were more in the lead, but they have not put us in much danger yet.
“A second goal could give them an impetus that could have threatened us. It’s normal to be a little nervous, of course.”
Barcelona and Bayern meet on Friday at the Estadio da Luz of Lisbon, with the winner set to face Manchester City of Lyon in the last four.
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