Count us in, Barcelona thump Lyon; sends hunters Man Utd on alert!

They were the best side as they prepared to meet with Lyon and being the only team in Spain after the exit of Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid in the hands of Ajax and Juventus, they had no option but to do it and Messi ensured he put his competitor Ronaldo though he is in a different league on pressure.

Regardless, ayes were cast towards Philippe Coutinho who has been struggling since joining the side but he scored to put on notice Manchester United of their wanting his sign.

Philippe Coutinho refused to commit his long-term future to Barcelona after helping them into the Champions League quarter-finals. The Brazilian midfielder has struggled to justify his massive £142million price tag since signing from Liverpool in January last year.

However, he was on the score sheet as the La Liga leaders hammered Lyon 5-1 to reach the last eight of Europe’s elite club competition. Coutinho has been linked with a move to Manchester United and admits he’s unsure what the future holds.

He said: “In the last few weeks, months even, I’ve not been playing well. But I still want to improve.”I came to Barcelona to give my best. I live for the moment. You never know what the future holds. I am happy with my performance today.”

Liverpool could miss out on millions if Barcelona offloaded the Samba Boy in the summer.The Reds are due to make earn £4.4million every time Coutinho makes 25 La Liga appearances up to 100.

That is likely to cost them at least £8.8m if he makes an early Nou Camp exit.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi scored two goals and set up two more as Barcelona moved into the Champions League quarter-finals.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona sealed their spot in the last eight of the Champions League. After a goalless first leg, Barcelona knew a draw would not be good enough to make it through to the quarter-fnals.

However, Messi fired the home side in front from the penalty spot midway through the first half.

The Argentine ace made no mistake from 12 yards with a cheeky panenka before Philippe Coutinho doubled their advantage. However, Lucas Tousart pulled one back for Lyon on the hour mark to leave the tie in the balance.

But Messi restored their two-goal cushion before Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele sealed their spot in Friday’s draw.

He said: “Wait for the draw, all the teams remaining are tough. We must wait calmly to see who we will play and prepare for the hardest thing that is coming now.”

Three weeks after the sides battled out a goalless first-leg draw in France, Messi opened the scoring with a 17th-minute Panenka-style penalty, and Coutinho then made it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark.

Lucas Tousart pulled a goal back for Lyon in the 58th minute, before Messi added his second in the 78th and then teed up Gerard Pique and substitute Ousmane Dembele.

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