Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates winning the Spanish League title, at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Levante on April 27, 2019. Manu Fernandez | Associated Press
Soccer

Soccer Wednesday: Miller picks action @ Belgian Cup Final - Gent v Mechelen, & UEFA Champions League game of Messi’s Barcelona v Liverpool

Sean Miller

With Ajax’s away win Tuesday, the dream final for all Cruyuff fans is still on: Barcelona vs. Ajax.

But the Blaugrana has a tough first leg test Wednesday (as do Ajax next week in the second leg). Liverpool is a scoring machine, and will look to put pressure on Barcelona.

Lionel Messi loves for these types of matches. If Barcelona can take any advantage back to England next week, the tie should be in its hands.

In Belgium, the Croky Cup final will be played between Gent and second division Mechelen. This is the sixth time Mechelen has played in the final, and it is 1-4 in the previous attempts, with a 1-0 win in 1987.

Gent is 3-1 in four previous finals. The two teams have drawn the last two times they have played, and three of six, with Gent winning two.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Barcelona (-111) vs. Liverpool (+300), draw (+260), 3 p.m. (TNT and Fubo.tv)
THE PICK:

Barcelona ML (-111)
Lionel Messi to score (-110)

BELGIUM BELGIAN CUP FINAL

Gent (-143) vs. Mechelen (+320), draw (+260), 8:30 a.m.
THE PICKS:
Gent ML (-143)
Gent -1 (-188)
Gent to lift the cup (-180)

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