UCL Preview: PSG Welcome Barcelona

For the third time in seven seasons, Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona will clash in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The first of those, of course, was the infamous “Remontada” in 2017, which saw the Spanish side come back from a 4-0 first leg. PSG had their revenge in 2021, though, with a first-leg Kylian Mbappé hat trick at the Camp Nou powering PSG to an eventual 5-2 aggregate win. Now, the two sides have reunited in the quarterfinals, with Luis Enrique (the manager of that Barça side in 2017) at the reins for PSG in his first season.

His opposite number, Xavi, is a man well known to him as the two shared the pitch for several seasons in Catalonia around the temperature, but both will be operating under, of course, the pressure that comes with managing a big club, but also with a future that’s unsettled. For Xavi, the former World Champion has announced he will depart the club come the end of the season, leaving their future — already uncertain in the face of financial issues — even more cloudy. As for Enrique, he enters this tie with the Ligue 1 title all but wrapped up and the Coupe de France still on the cards, but with the looming likely departure of Kylian Mbappé this offseason. Enrique has been proactive about building a team to succeed in the wake of his departure, but it’s hard not to view this match as something of a swansong for both.

In terms of form, PSG may have turned in a limp draw with a second-choice side at the weekend, but their depth and strong play to start the season has allowed them to pick and choose their games in the run-in. Having comfortably seen off Real Sociedad in the Round of 16, this match represents a step up in the quality of opponent, but certainly not an insurmountable one. Barcelona are all but assured of a place in the Champions League next season, but barring a miracle, will cede the title to Real Madrid. Their porous defence (only two clean sheets from eight matches in Europe) looks to be their Achilles’ heel, something that Mbappé and company will seek to exploit.

PSG will be missing Achraf Hakimi, suspended for this match, as well as Nordi Mukiele, his natural replacement at right back, so the hosts may turn to Marquinhos to feature there. The captain, who will set the club record for appearances should he feature, played there regularly earlier in his career, but may not offer the level of attacking threat necessary to trouble the opposition. Elsewhere in the team, Bradley Barcola has been named to the squad, but fresh off an injury it’s unlikely that the youngster will be risked from the off in a match of this magnitude.

Barcelona are missing only long-term absentee Gavi, and should field a first-choice eleven, with Xavi’s only choice between the experience Inigo Martínez and the impressive teenager Pau Cubarsí in central defence. With the Parc des Princes sure to be rocking, this matchup of two true heavyweights is set to be a thrilling one, with the hosts perhaps having a slight advantage in front of a lively home crowd.

Predicted lineups:

PSG: 4-3-3: Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Pereira, Hernandez, Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vithina, Ruíz; Dembélé, Mbappé, Lee

Barcelona: 4-3-3: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí (or Martínez), Cancelo; De Jong, Christensen, Güdogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphina (or Félix)