The Champions League quarter-finals kicked off with excitement last week, featuring multiple goals and intense drama in all four matches.
Match Preview
Barcelona secured a narrow lead over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to claim a 3-2 victory in the French capital.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona at the Parc des Princes, but PSG quickly turned the tide with two goals early in the second half.
However, Xavi’s team staged a comeback, with Raphinha netting his second goal of the game before Andreas Christensen sealed the win.
Following their triumph, Barcelona continued their winning streak with a 1-0 win against Cadiz on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions.
In a broader context, Xavi’s squad remains undefeated in their last 13 games, registering seven clean sheets during this period.
On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain had a break after the first leg, with only six Ligue 1 matches scheduled last weekend.
Under Luis Enrique’s management, PSG enjoyed a 27-game unbeaten streak from mid-November to early April, progressing in all competitions.
However, PSG stumbled in their recent outings, settling for a 1-1 draw against Clermont Foot before their loss to Barcelona.
In the Champions League, PSG’s performance has been inconsistent, with four wins, two draws, and three defeats this season.
Head-to-head:
PSG has won only two of their last eight Champions League matches against Barcelona, suffering five defeats in the process.
Considering that eight of the previous 11 UCL meetings between Barca and PSG have seen over 3.5 goals, the second leg is expected to be high-scoring.
Team News & Updates:
Barcelona’s Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto are suspended for the second leg, while Alejandro Balde and Gavi remain sidelined due to injury.
PSG also has several long-term injury concerns, with Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa, and Sergio Rico out of action.
Prediction & Analysis:
With both teams boasting potent attacking talent and vulnerabilities at the back, we anticipate an open and entertaining encounter.
Given the history of high-scoring affairs between Barcelona and PSG, expect goals from both sides.
However, in the end, we predict a closely contested draw, with Barcelona advancing to the semi-finals on aggregate.
- Barcelona 2-2 PSG
