Feb 1, 2018 at 8.30pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Attendance: 50,959
Barcelona
1-0
Valencia
Suarez (67')
Roberto (35')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Pereira (40'), Vietto (51'), Soler (53')

Ernesto Valverde: "We have to let Lionel Messi breathe a bit"

Valverde:
© Offside
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde says that watching Lionel Messi up close "is a spectacle", but does not want the weight of expectation to get to the superstar forward.

Ernesto Valverde has attempted to ease the weight on Lionel Messi's shoulders by suggesting that other Barcelona players have to step up.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner produced another stellar display in the Catalan giants' 1-0 win over Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Thursday night.

Luis Suarez profited from Messi's brilliance by converting a cross at the back post, giving Barca the advantage ahead of next week's second leg at the Mestalla.

Valverde acknowledges that the superstar forward is now expected to make things happen, having played a direct part in 37 goals already this season.

"Sometimes it's too much because we have to let Messi breathe a bit," he told reporters after the match. "It's true he is an awesome player as we have said many, many times. It's a spectacle watching him every day.

"Winning a match is really difficult and we did. Valencia didn't score, so we have to think that 0-0 is good for us at Mestalla but we won't go there looking to draw the match. We will go for trying to win it."

Suarez's goal in the first leg was his 14th in 13 outings in all competitions.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona22184060114958
2Atletico MadridAtletico2214713392449
3Valencia22124642261640
4Real Madrid21116445212439
5Villarreal2211473326737
6Sevilla2210392834-633
7EibarEibar229583134-332
8Celta Vigo229493932731
9GironaGirona228773129231
10Real Betis2293103745-830
11Getafe227872621529
12Leganes218582021-129
13Athletic Bilbao226972425-127
14Real Sociedad2275104140126
15Espanyol226791929-1025
16AlavesAlaves2271141932-1322
17Levante2231182032-1220
18Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo2245132451-2717
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2252151750-3317
20Malaga2234151435-2113
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