No Messi, Suárez, Busquets, etc in Barcelona squad for Celta Vigo
Ernesto Valverde has the luxury of resting his star players ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool.
With the Spanish league already sown up, Ernesto Valverde had the luxury of picking a squad for the Liga game away to Celta Vigo full of fringe players. This allows the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets, to name just a few, the chance to rest up fully, and be fresh to finish off the Champions League job they started on Wednesday evening.
Messi, Suárez, Piqué to be fresh for Anfield
From the team that started the semi-final first leg against Liverpool in Camp Nou, only Lenglet, Coutinho and Vidal make an appearance in the squad for the game in Vigo on Saturday evening. For those three, Valverde may choose to start them from the bench as less experienced members get a chance to prove their worth ahead of next season.
For Liverpool's part, they also have a Saturday evening match, against Newcastle United, however Jürgen Klopp cannot afford to take his foot off the gas. Knowing his side will need to be at their absolute sharpest if they are to reverse a 3-0 deficit against a rested Barça side, he is keenly aware that only a win will do on Tyneside in their quest for an elusive Premier League title.
Only when we look back in a few days will we know how big an affect this situation has on both clubs.