Two of Europe’s football giants, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, will collide in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals this season. The French champions, led by manager Luis Enrique, will face his former club Barcelona in a highly anticipated matchup. Enrique was at the helm of Barcelona when they achieved their legendary comeback against PSG in March 2017, overturning a four-goal deficit and making history in the competition. Now, he aims to guide Paris Saint-Germain to their first semi-final appearance since the 2020/21 season.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Preparations and Defensive Instability
Despite their dominance in the domestic league, PSG’s preparations for the first leg were disrupted by a 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Clermont. They managed to salvage a late equalizer in the 85th minute, highlighting their recent struggles to find consistent form. Over their past five matches at Parc des Princes, PSG has recorded more draws than wins (W2, D3). Additionally, they have only kept one clean sheet during this period, exposing their defensive vulnerabilities.
Barcelona’s Chance for Redemption
Barcelona, on the other hand, will be seeking redemption after their heavy defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in August 2020. This defeat marked their heaviest loss in the competition. However, they enter this clash with confidence, having won their last four competitive matches, including three clean sheets. Xavi’s side will be eager to prove themselves in the French capital and advance to the semi-finals.
This fixture between PSG and Barcelona in the knockout stages of the tournament is not new. They have met five times before, making it the third-most played fixture in this stage. Barcelona will face challenges, especially considering their recent away record against PSG. They have only won one of their last six away head-to-head matches (D2, L3). However, the reigning Spanish champions have an impressive five-match unbeaten run away from home in all competitions (W3, D2).
The Battle of Formidable Strikers
A key battle to watch in this match will be between two of Europe’s most formidable strikers. Kylian Mbappé, who has scored 40 goals in 60 appearances for PSG, including four goals in two head-to-head matches against Barcelona, will go head-to-head with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski is the third all-time top scorer in Champions League history, with an impressive tally of 94 goals in 118 appearances.
Hot Stat: Barcelona has struggled in away matches during the knockout stages of the Champions League, winning just one of their last eleven matches (D5, L5).
The stage is set for an exciting clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. Both teams have a point to prove and will be aiming to secure a crucial victory in the first leg of the quarter-finals.