Ernesto Valverde insists Barcelona can end their recent low-scoring run when they take on Lyon in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

The usually free-scoring Catalan giants drew three games in a row before battling to a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, scoring only four goals across the four games.

Three of those came from Lionel Messi, including two penalties, while Luis Suarez has not scored in four appearances in February.

Ernesto Valverde believes Barcelona will rediscover their scoring touch very quickly

Barcelona are looking for their first away win in the knockout stage since Arsenal in 2016

Valverde, though, told Marca ahead of the first leg of the Lyon tie: ‘Everyone has their own opinion. Perhaps we have not created many chances in some games, but we are clearly an attacking team.

‘I do not have a lot to say, we will see tomorrow.’

Barca’s last away win in the competition’s knockout stage came in 2016 against Arsenal but Valverde continued: ‘Records are there to be broken.

‘It was also said that we did not score away from home and this year we have done so in big (group-stage) games against Tottenham and Inter.’

The Catalan giants are seven points clear at the top of La Liga after 24 games of the season

Lionel Messi has scored three of Barcelona’s last four goals during a mini-drought for the club

Uruguayan Luis Suarez has not scored in February but will want to hit the net against Lyon

Lyon proved their quality and their taste for the big occasion with a win and a draw against Manchester City in the group stage, and again by recently inflicting Paris St Germain’s first defeat of the Ligue 1 season.

Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets said: ‘We have a lot of respect for Olympique (Lyonnais) and we know about their results against Manchester City and PSG.

‘A completely different scenario to the group stage. We know what they can do to us.’

Valverde issues instructions to his playing staff during a break from the training session

The players are put through a series of drills at the Groupama Stadium ahead of the match

Thomas Vermaelen joins Arthur, Rafinha and goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen on Barca’s injury list.

Lyon will be without captain and top scorer Nabil Fekir for the first leg due to suspension.

Manager Bruno Genesio admits the absence of the World Cup-winner will be a big blow.

Samuel Umtiti (R) will be returning to the club where he started out as a young player

Arturo Vidal may start in central midfield for the Catalan club in France on Tuesday

‘We have to find a balance tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Nabil Fekir is our captain and technical leader. It’s always difficult playing without him.

‘He likes being decisive. We’ll need to overcome his absence.

‘We have to be measured. We can compete tomorrow but we aren’t favourites.

‘It will take more effort than usual. It’s important to believe and trust in yourself. I’m calm and serene. The danger is to play the match before starting it.’

Tuesday’s clash will also see Barca defender Samuel Umtiti return to the club where he began his career.

Genesio, whose side are third in Ligue 1, said: ‘We are proud to have participated in the rise of Samuel Umtiti. We are very happy to reunite with him.

‘He is a winner and a competitor. I am very happy to see him come back.’

Sportsmail’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips ahead of Tuesday’s meetings at Taunton, Wolverhampton and Wetherby.

Racing expert Robin Goodfellow brings you the tips you need ahead of Tuesday’s meetings

TAUNTON

WOLVERHAMPTON

WETHERBY

It should have been one of the feelgood stories of the year: a win in Hollywood in Tiger Woods‘ tournament over Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas for a man who came back from brain surgery.

A man who wondered aloud in those dark days whether he would live a full life again, let alone beat such stellar competition to win the Genesis Open, one of the best events on the PGA Tour.

How could it get better than that? Surely the watching world was raising its arms and saluting the guts and gifts of JB Holmes?

 JB Holmes was criticised during tournament coverage and on social media for slow play

Except nobody was. At almost 1am in Britain, it is hard to imagine who could have raised an eyelid let alone an arm as Holmes sucked all the life and joy out of the event.

Perhaps only the other Holmes could solve the mystery of why the PGA Tour do not do something about slow play. Or a cynic.

‘Until TV or sponsors say no more money, it ain’t gonna change,’ said an exasperated Adam Scott, who had the misfortune to partner Holmes all day.

JB Holmes wore down Adam Scott and Justin Thomas in five-hour-35-minutes final round

Was it a coincidence Holmes’s antics saw Scott and Justin Thomas, his other playing partner, lose the plot as the day progressed?

Thomas began the day looking like the best player in the world. He finished with a 75, his worst score for 18 months.

When the five-hours-35-minutes final round drew mercifully to a close, Holmes had the brass neck to say he has got quicker over the years.

He pointed to the fact his group were never put on the clock, which says everything about the appalling indolence of the PGA Tour when it comes to policing the pace of play.

Yes, the conditions were brutal and yes, we know players will take longer with so much at stake, but golf cannot go on like this and expect people to watch.

Fair play to American pro Zac Blair for calling out Holmes on social media, describing his pace as ‘beyond ridiculous and disrespectful to his playing partners’ – but, as he pointed out, it needs the big names to speak up, not just members of the chorus line.

This has been the worst start to a season I can recall, with the wretched behaviour of Sergio Garcia and Matt Kuchar piled on top of the rumpus about the new rules. On Sunday, it got still worse.

Boo Weekley knew it had been a long time since he had played golf when he found his clubs covered in rust.

More than 18 months it had been for the American who became popular with his folksy manner and man-of-the-match display at the 2008 Ryder Cup.

After missing the cut at the 2017 Canadian Open, he had surgery on his right elbow. He got over that, only to be diagnosed with cancer in his right shoulder. 

When he started hitting balls again, his drives were barely going 150 yards but the 45-year-old is regaining strength. He returned to competitive play last week on the Web.com Tour, one rung below the regular circuit. 

‘I’m going to try to play as much as I can,’ he said after missing the cut. It’s a long road back, but plenty of people are wishing him well.

Popular Boo Weekley has resumed his career after almost 18 months out as he had cancer

One casualty of the new schedule appears to be the four World Golf Championship events, which are 20 years old this year. 

The four majors and the Players Championship were supposed to be the only events with more importance, but could anyone say that is now the case?

This week, the WGC-Mexico Championship is taking place, but Justin Rose isn’t playing, so how important can it be when the world No 1 is giving it a miss?

Adam Scott said last week he might not play in any of them, citing the changed schedule.

Jason Roy hopes World Cup success will smooth his pathway to the Ashes.

England’s one-day opener began the white-ball leg of the Caribbean tour with a typically belligerent century in the warm-up victory against admittedly modest opposition, the University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI, here on Sunday.

He wants to take that form into the first of five ODIs at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday — and beyond.

England batsman Jason Roy hopes World Cup success will smooth his pathway to the Ashes

‘Absolutely,’ said Roy when asked if he could use white-ball success as a launchpad to the Ashes series that follows the World Cup this summer.

‘If that call comes, then happy days. I’ve just got to work hard and make sure my game is in order if and when I do get that Test call.’

Keaton Jennings, Joe Denly and Roy’s Surrey team-mate Rory Burns have all failed to nail down places as England continue to have top-order problems in Tests.

Roy began the white-ball leg of the Caribbean tour with a typically belligerent century

Roy added: ‘It’s not a case of, “Yeah, it’s going to happen” or, “No, it’s not going to”. It’s a case of making sure I’m the best cricketer I can be if that chance comes about.’

Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid made Test comebacks last summer on the back of white-ball form and selector Ed Smith is never afraid to think radically.

Rashid arrived back here having returned home after the first Test in Barbados to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.

‘You want to play but as I wasn’t going to in Antigua it was good of England to give me the chance to go home and support my family,’ said Rashid. The 31-year-old is a key member of England’s white-ball attack but the jury remains out on him as a Test bowler. ‘I’m still a long way off being a world-beater in Test cricket,’ he admitted.