WATCH: Ernesto Valverde accepts Barcelona are too reliant on Lionel Messi

Sport360 staff 12:32 03/04/2019
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi

    Ernesto Valverde fully accepts Barcelona are dependent on Lionel Messi after the Argentine helped inspire a comeback in Tuesday’s scintillating 4-4 draw away to relegation threatened Villarreal.

    Valverde had chosen to rest Messi ahead of Saturday’s visit of second-placed Atletico Madrid, and initially Barca looked to be coping fine without him as they went 2-0 up thanks to Philippe Coutinho and Malcom.

    But Samuel Chukwueze pulled one back and Karl Toko Ekambi punished poor positioning from Marc-Andre ter Stegen to equalise, before Vicente Iborra and Carlos Bacca had seemingly secured a famous win for Villarreal.

    Trailing 4-2 in the 90th minute, Messi fired home a free-kick before Luis Suarez equalised with the last kick of the game.

    Hear what Barca boss Valverde had to say on the dependence of Messi.

    For the very latest news, analysis and opinion download the Sport360 app

    Recommended