Paris Saint-Germain Vs Barcelona
Paris Saint-Germain Vs Barcelona Wednesday 10th March 2021 – 20:00 (BT Sport)
UEFA Champions League, Round of 16
Pick: Barcelona or Draw
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: 888Sport
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 7th March 2021)
Preview: An explosive night for Kylian Mbappe, whose superbly taken hat-trick inspired PSG to a 4-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou on 16 February, has the French side firmly in control of their last-sixteen destiny ahead of this return leg at the Parc des Princes.
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Table of Contents
Paris Saint-Germain – Pochettino has to guard against complacency?
Until last season’s run to the final, the Round of 16 had proved something of a roadblock for Paris Saint-Germain. France’s perennial Ligue 1 champions, boasting a league title in seven of the past eight terms, had exited the tournament at this very stage in three successive campaigns before ousting Borussia Dortmund in 2019/20 – a 2-0 win in Paris helping them overturn a 2-1 reverse from the clash in Germany.
With no deficit coming into this return leg in Paris, memories of their ill-fated last-sixteen tie with Barcelona in 2017/18 are likely to resurface. Similar to now, PSG held a commanding four-goal aggregate lead only to relinquish the tie by succumbing to a 6-1 defeat in Spain. Moreover, that win in Spain in the opening leg of this tie marked just a third win in the last twelve meetings versus Spanish opposition (D2 L7).
Even they cannot contrive to throw this away though, surely. PSG have won three of their four matches, all three to nil, since Kylian Mbappe made his presence felt at the Camp Nou with his stunning hat-trick. A fine return of 17 wins from the last 25 Champions League matches (D3 L5), scoring in each of their last 22 at the Parc des Prices, suggest another infamous night can be averted.
Barcelona – Catalans to bring the goals?
Prior to this season, Barcelona had never before lost successive home matches in the same Champions League campaign. PSG ensured a small piece of history was therefore created in the first leg, the French side recording a 4-1 victory at the Camp Nou after Juventus had earned a 3-0 success there in December. Consequently the five-time European champions are out to 20/1 to make the cut for the last-eight.
However the contest in Paris transpires, the history books will have to be rewritten. Barca will need to surpass even their remontada heroics – when, in 2017/18, they fought back from losing the first-leg 4-0 in Paris to claim a remarkable 6-1 triumph in Spain and reach the next round – if they are to preserve their phenomenal record of reaching at least the quarter-finals in all of the previous thirteen seasons.
On this occasion, however, any comeback must be mounted in the French capital where the La Liga outfit lost on two of three prior visits. They also boast a solitary win across the last seven visits to Ligue 1 clubs (W1 D4 L2). However, their spirits are boosted by some inspired results in recent weeks, going five unbeaten and winning the last four without conceding since that chastening first-leg.
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Paris Saint-Germain Vs Barcelona Betting Advice
Many were anticipating a more competitive affair in Spain than what we got, as Kylian Mbappe ran riot to net a hat-trick in an emphatic 4-1 win for the French side. It wasn’t even a scoreline that unduly flattered them, with PSG easily winning the xG battle to boot (BAR 1.65 – 2.91 PSG, according to Infogol). And yet, with home advantage in their favour, we can still get generous odds about another Parisien win inside 90 minutes.
PSG Vs Barcelona – Key Facts:
- A 4-1 defeat at the Camp Nou in the first leg means Barcelona have to score at least four times to stand any hope of turning this tie around against PSG.
- Goals could be scarce at the Parc des Princes. PSG come into the contest boasting three successive clean sheets while Barcelona have kept four in as many games.
- However, all five previous European matches contested between the clubs in Paris produced a minimum three match goals, the last four all going Over 3.5.
Ronald Koeman’s side have stumbled upon some form since their Cap Nou humbling. They’ve won four consecutive matches, secured progress in the cup with the sort of late drama which can galvanise a dressing room, and haven’t conceded in six hours of competitive action. PSG, meanwhile, have wobbled before from a position of comfort. Barca, therefore, are a big price to restore some respectability to proceedings.
Best Betting Odds – Paris Saint-Germain Vs Barcelona
Paris Saint-Germain – 11/10 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 16/5 (Betway)
Barcelona – 21/10 (BetVictor)
