PSG have finally reached the summit of Ligue 1 after training behind Lyon and Marseille for much of the season. They are looking for their third straight championship in France but it is in Europe, and the Champions League in particular, where they crave success. The Parisians put a marker down in their last-16 match when defeating Chelsea over two legs. Many would argue that they should have done that over a year ago but this victory would have been even sweeter because of their exit to the same club in last year’s competition. They had to do it the hard way, however, going behind three times in the tie and having to play the majority of the second leg with a man less. The most remarkable thing about their performance at Stamford Bridge was the energy they showed in spite of the sending off to their captain and talisman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Nearing the end of Luis Enrique’s first season in charge at the Nou Camp and Barcelona remain firmly engaged in three competitions. A weekend draw away to Sevilla leaves them two points clear of Real Madrid and they also have a Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao to look forward to at the end of May. Their focus switches back to the Champions League, a trophy they have won three times in the past nine years. The last of those wins came in 2011, however, and their recent record has been disappointing by the high standards they have set, previously. Atletico Madrid knocked them out at this stage last season whilst the 7-0 on aggregate humbling they suffered against Bayern Munich the previous season will still be fresh in the memory.
Laurent Blanc will have to do without several important players for the visit of Barcelona. Ibrahimovic will of course miss out after being sent off in the last match whilst Marco Verratti is also suspended after picking up one too many yellow cards. Thiago Motta and David Luiz are also absent (both injured) which take four of their definite starters out the equation. For all the money they have spent, and the quality they have accumulated, like any side missing their best players, they will find it incredibly hard to replace that quartet.
Other than Dani Alves who will be missing through suspension – and Thomas Varmaelen who is a long term absentee – Barca are basically at full strength. That right back position is a problem area, though, as Enrique has not been won over by the two back-ups he has at his disposal. He could choose to select Adriano, who is usually a left back by trade, but there’s no doubt they will be weakened without Alves. There were signs of the Barcelona from four seasons ago in their meetings with Manchester City, with Lionel Messi returning to near his best. That should serve as a warning for the other seven clubs left in the Champions League, particularly their immediate opponent.
After going over 40 years without facing each other in a competitive match, PSG and Barcelona will face each other for the fifth and sixth time within the next eight days. The clubs were paired together at this stage two season’s ago and were drawn together in the groups stages of this current campaign. The record stands at one victory apiece and two draws. All four meetings have seen both teams scoring, with 15 goals scored in total. I can see this match being played in a similar fashion as both teams love getting forward and putting the opposition’s defence under pressure. The big difference for me, in this game, is this will be the first time the two have met when Messi has been in such terrific form. He was just getting over his exertions at the World Cup when they met in the group stage but he’s playing at a level which he has not been at for two or three seasons. I think that will ultimately prove the difference over the two legs, especially as Ibrahimovic will be missing. I can still see the home side causing the Catalans problems on Wednesday and fancy the trend of both teams to score in this fixture, continuing.
Both teams to score 4/5 @ Betfred
