Solskjaer Tips Barca To Win Champions League

By Joshua Walters

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has tipped Barcelona to win the Champions League this season.

Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals stage after a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou with Lionel Messi's first-half brace and Philippe Coutinho's second-half stunner.

The Catalans advance on 4-0 aggregate after a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford last week.

The former Molde manager told reporters after the game Barcelona would win the Champions League, and cited the quality of the Catalans front-three of Lionel Messi, Philipe Coutinho and Luiz Suarez as the reason.

"I think Barcelona will win, yeah," Solskjaer and when asked by reporters to choose which of the remaining clubs would win the trophy.

"With the quality they have in the front three. They've got [Ousmane] Dembele and Malcom, players there to put on.

"I wouldn't bet against them, even though I don't bet. But for me, they will be favourites to win the whole tournament."

Liverpool have their noses in front against FC Porto after a 2-0 at Anfield in the first leg, and Barcelona await the winner of that tie on Wednesday to know their opponent in the semi-final.

The Red Devils, on the other hand, will now switch their attention to the Premier League as they hope to book a spot in the top four.

Solskjaer’s United currently sit sixth on the Premier League table with two points adrift fourth-placed Arsenal as the hunt for Champions League qualification heats up in the domestic league.

With the race for Champions League spot being their utmost priority, Manchester United will visit Everton on Sunday before they host crosstown rivals, Manchester City on April 24.