Two teams with a rich history in European football’s top club competition will clash in the first leg of their quarterfinal at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have faced each other 10 times in the Champions League since 2013, delivering several memorable matches.
In this preview, we cover all the important stats, trends, and analysis ahead of the game.
Match Preview
PSG faced a surprising 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Clermont Foot on Saturday, despite dominating possession with 73% and attempting 23 shots on goal at home.
However, the consistent French champions maintain a 10-point lead at the top of Ligue 1, having lost just one of their 28 league matches this season.
It’s important to note that PSG has struggled to maintain consistency in the Champions League this season, securing two wins, two draws, and two losses during the group stage.
Although Luis Enrique’s PSG secured a 4-1 aggregate win over Real Sociedad in the round of 16, they might have concerns about their recent European performances.
Meanwhile, Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas in their previous match, extending their unbeaten streak to 11 matches across all competitions.
Sitting eight points behind Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, Barcelona is keen to shift focus from their league struggles to the Champions League.
Similar to PSG, Barcelona faced an inconsistent group stage, losing two of their final three matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.
However, Xavi’s team stepped up their game in the round of 16, securing a 4-2 aggregate win over Napoli to advance to the quarterfinals.
Head-to-Head:
PSG has lost just one of their last four Champions League meetings with Barcelona, winning 4-0 and 4-1 in two of those matches.
With seven of the previous 10 encounters producing over 3.5 goals, Wednesday’s match is likely to be high-scoring.
Team news & Updates:
PSG will miss suspended full-back Achraf Hakimi for the first leg, while Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico are injured.
Barcelona, on the other hand, will be without the injured trio Gavi, Andreas Christensen, and Alejandro Balde, while Pedri is doubtful for the first leg.
Prediction & Analysis:
With PSG losing just one of their last four Champions League encounters with Barcelona, expectations are high for another thrilling match.
Previous meetings have often seen high-scoring affairs, suggesting an eventful clash awaits.
Considering both teams’ attacking prowess, we predict a draw with over 1.5 goals from each side.
- PSG 2-2 Barcelona
