Iniesta irreplaceable for Valverde

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde admits he is unsure of how best to replace the injured Andres Iniesta in his starting XI.

Iniesta is a doubt for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie with Chelsea on March 14 after sustaining a hamstring problem in the 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

The 33-year-old attempted to play through the injury before he eventually made way for Andre Gomes in the 36th minute.

And with Philippe Coutinho ineligible for European competition, Chelsea's visit to Camp Nou could require Barca to repair two key components from the team that started on Sunday.

"He cannot be matched, like Messi. You cannot replace a unique player like him," Valverde said of his captain.

"We are going to wait to see the scan of the injury. It looked like a muscle tear, but we will hope that it is not so serious.

"He knows how to manage himself. He was having a great game."

 

4 March 2018

Iniesta's early withdrawal against second-placed Atleti was ultimately softened by a victory that improved Barca's lead in LaLiga to eight points with 11 matches remaining.

Lionel Messi netted the winner with a sublime first-half free-kick, his 600th career goal for club and country.

"There is no player like Messi in the world," Valverde said.

"I do not know what would have happened if he was playing for Atletico. I don’t want to imagine it, either."

 

4 March 2018