Final Before The Final

Spanish Giant Barcelona will face EPL title contender Liverpool in the semifinal of Champions league 2018-19. Both teams has a history of over 100 years of football but they met only 4 times in the history with Liverpool winning 3 times while Spanish giants could only manage once in the group stage of 2001-02 UEFA champions league  when both teams were in the same group. Liverpool has a record of winning against Barcelona on all knock out stage meetings. Reds finished as European champion on two occasions however lost the final in 2006-07 season from Italian Giants AC Milan. Lets have a look in the history of two great teams. 

1975-76 UEFA Cup

Both teams faced each other very first time in the semi final of  UEFA cup 1975-76 on March 30,1976 under Liverpool great Bob Paisley. Liverpool won 4 European titles in 5 years from 1975-1981. First leg was played at Camp Nou and Liverpool headed back with one crucial away goal. John Toshack scored the only goal of the match. In the second leg at Anfield Phil Thompson put the Reds in the driving seat with his goal after 50 minutes, but Carles Rexach responded two minutes later to set up a tense finish. Liverpool qualified for the final against Club Brugge. Liverpool ended that season with the domestic and UEFA cup double. 

2000-01 UEFA Cup

Barcelona met liverpool second time in 2000-01 UEFA cup semi final when Spanish giant were knocked out of champions league on group stage and dropped to UEFA cup that season. First leg was played on April 5, 2001 at Camp Nou in front of record attendance of over 90 thousand spectators. Barcelona could only manage a goalless draw at home. Second leg was played on April 19, 2001 at Anfield. Home team were the winner with only goal scored by McAllister on penalty near half time. Liverpool again went on to win the UEFA cup final against Spanish club Alavés on extra time. Liverpool finished that season with a treble winning domestic League Cup , FA Cup and UEFA cup however they finished the league on 3rd position under Manager Gérard Houllier. 

2001-02 UEFA Champions league

Both teams met again in the same year's Champions league on second group stage when both teams were categorized in the same group. Barcelona topped that group while Liverpool were on second place. Barcelona took a huge advantage of 3 away goals in the first leg at Anfield winning the tie Liverpool 1-3 Barcelona. Second leg at Camp Nou was a goalless draw. No team could manage to win that title. 

2006-07 UEFA Champions League

Last and the final meeting between these two giants were at 2006-07 Champions league first knockout round. Liverpool won both legs with a score 1-2 at Campu Nou and 1-0 at Anfield. Messi failed to score on that occasian. Liverpool lost the final from Italian Giant AC Milan by 2 goals to one. 

Conclusion.

Barcelona never managed to beat Liverpool on UEFA Club competition's knock out phase.

Messi never scored against Liverpool.

Barcelona never won against Liverpool playing at Camp Nou at knockout stage of UEFA club competition.

Young Firminho, Mo Salah & Mane vs Experienced Messi , Suarez and Coutinho

Ernesto Valverde and Jurgen Klopp never faced each other in their managerial career.

Although History favors Liverpool however anything can happen in 90 minutes on the field. As said by great Sir Alex Ferguson " Football bloody hell". Undoubtedly This will be the biggest match of UEFA Champions league 2008-19.