The coronavirus pandemic forced UEFA to come up with a new way to finish the Champions League and Europa League.So in these unprecedented times, the competitions will finish in a ‘winner stays on’ style knockout event in Lisbon, Portugal.The Champions League quarter-final ties will be played this week and for Lionel Messi and Barcelona, it’s probably a good thing that they will be settled in just one match.Their opponents in the quarter-final, Bayern Munich, are the hottest team in Europe right now and would expect to overcome Quique Setien’s Barcelona over 180 minutes.But anything can happen in just one match and it suits Barcelona to have just 90 minutes against Robert Lewandowski and co.
Keeping Messi fit and healthy has been a matter of high-importance for Barcelona this season and according to reports in Spain, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has even been sleeping on a mattress that ‘kills’ coronavirus.In a report by Tek Deeps, it’s reported that Messi has been sleeping on a £900 Tec Moon mattress that removes traces of the virus in four hours.The mattress uses a system called ‘Viruclean’ that uses nanoparticles in the tissues to erase 99 per cent of viruses and bacteria.
Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez is an ambassador for Tec Moon, and Messi’s Argentina teammate and close friend Sergio Aguero also had one of the anti-coronavirus mattresses.
Messi might even have taken one to Lisbon with him.
Barcelona secured their place in the mini tournament with a 4-2 aggregate win over Napoli.
They defeated the Italian side 3-1 last Saturday, with Messi among the goals, to set up a meeting against German champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Barcelona haven’t been champions of Europe since 2015 but if they can get past Bayern, they will fancy themselves of going all the way.