They meet again. After splitting their two games during the group stages, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have once again been drawn against one another, this time in the quarterfinal round. PSG persevered amid adversity against Chelsea in the round of 16, but they must overcome even more obstacles as they face Lionel Messi and co. without four of their top players.
Can the shorthanded Parisiens survive against the Spaniards in the first leg? Read on as we preview this star-studded affair. Also, see if Barca’s ex-manager Pep Guardiola gets a win on Wednesday as we preview FC Porto vs. Bayern Munich.
The blows just keep on coming for Paris Saint-Germain ahead of their first leg clash with Barcelona. Not only will the French champions be without suspended stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti, but they will also be missing round of 16 hero David Luiz and Thiago Motta due to injury.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Don’t count PSG out just yet, though. This is a team which exhibited tremendous heart in the face of adversity in the round of 16 second leg against Chelsea. They were down to 10 men away from home and faced elimination twice, but they dug deep to equalize twice and went through on away goals.
Furthermore, the fortune that they’ve invested in this squad has afforded them the depth to withstand the loss of those four players.
Edinson Cavani (six Champions League goals this season) will be able to take his more preferred central role at the heart of their attack in place of Ibrahimovic. French internationals Yohan Cabaye and Adrien Rabiot can capably fill in for Verratti and Motta in midfield. Meanwhile, rising star Marquinhos could even be considered an upgrade defensively over David Luiz in central defense.
The Parisiens should also take heart in the fact that they already defeated Barcelona at home during the group stage despite missing Ibrahimovic. With the speedy Lucas Moura, who should return after missing both legs against Chelsea due to injury, on the wings and the powerful Blaise Matiudi in midfield, PSG have the combination of pace, physicality and directness on the counterattack that has troubled Barca in the recent past.
Betting on Barcelona
After a rocky first few months, Barcelona are now coming together very nicely during the stretch run of the season. They’ve established a four-point lead over rivals Real Madrid atop the La Liga standings, with the terrifying three-headed monster of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar leading the way.
Messi has been in typically scintillating form with 33 goals in 30 league appearances this season, and eight in eight Champions League appearances. Meanwhile, Suarez has finally been banging in the goals since scoring both in a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the round of 16 first leg.
Messi, Suarez and Neymar were all on target as Barca beat PSG at the Nou Camp during the group stage. If Messi is in top form and orchestrating the attack as he’s accustomed to do, Barca should be a very real threat to steal an away goal or two.
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has also been keen to solidify his defense, which has conceded just eight goals in 15 league games away from home. Whether Enrique plays Javier Mascherano, who has been deployed in his natural defensive midfield position in key matches, or the now-fit Sergio Busquets, Barca should have a much easier time putting the clamps on a second-string PSG midfield lacking in big-game experience.
Writer’s Prediction
Barcelona escape Paris with a 2-1 advantage to take to the Nou Camp. Create a betting account now to take full advantage of the last few rounds of Champions League football for this season.
