BARCELONA, Spain, Apr 1 – Lionel Messi will probably play against Villarreal in La Liga this week, because “there’s no suitable scenario for resting” the Argentine superstar, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said on Monday.

Barcelona are 10 points clear at the top of the Spanish League ahead of Tuesday’s away game, followed by a home tie with second-place Atletico Madrid on Saturday and then Manchester United away in a Champions League quarterfinal next Wednesday.

“We attach great importance to this game,” Valverde said of the Villarreal game before acknowledging that “many people have their sights on the Champions League and also the Atletico game.”

“We’ll see tomorrow about Leo,” Valverde said of his 31-year-old forward who has 31 league goals so far this season.

“The three points tomorrow are worth the same as those against Atletico,” Valverde said.

“It is a perfect match to win,” he said, when asked about rotating his squad. “It does not escape me that our rivals are waiting for a slip to feed their hopes of catching us. We don’t want give it any opportunities.”

“There are nine games, if we win six we are champions,” he added. “But having to win six games does not mean we have the league won, we have a lot of work to do.”

Valverde said he did not think renewed rumours that Antoine Griezmann was going to leave Atletico for Barcelona would not destabilise either club.

“It’s the usual stuff, we’re used to it,” said Valverde.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Arsenal sinks Newcastle to move third

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn There no point resting Messi, says Valverdern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spursrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 21 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculationrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alivern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Halep closes on world number one Osakarn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn African players in Europe: Salah helps Liverpool back to toprn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Van Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Gor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Chebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Logarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Kisumu County to host 2019 Elgon Cuprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Ethiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

There no point resting Messi, says Valverde

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spurs

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculation

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alive

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Halep closes on world number one Osaka

rn rn rn Gamern rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES (78%, 14 Votes)
ntt
• NO (22%, 4 Votes)
ntt

Total Voters: 18

nttnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

African players in Europe: Salah helps Liverpool back to top

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Victorious Hamilton defends rival Vettel

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Five things we learned in European football this weekend

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Warriors thump Hornets, take one game lead over Nuggets

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Napoli run riot in Rome to pull clear of Inter Milan

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Arsenal sinks Newcastle to move thirdrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn There no point resting Messi, says Valverdern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spursrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculationrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alivern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tVan Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 28th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tA day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLogarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKisumu County to host 2019 Elgon Cuprn

rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEthiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Arsenal sinks Newcastle to move thirdrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn There no point resting Messi, says Valverdern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spursrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculationrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alivern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */