Barcelona vs PSG Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Barcelona vs PSG on and what time does it start? Barcelona vs PSG will take place on Tuesday 16th April, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Barcelona vs PSG? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Barcelona vs PSG on in the UK? Barcelona vs PSG will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Barcelona vs PSG in the UK? Barcelona vs PSG can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BARCELONA
Ever since Xavi announced that he would be leaving Barcelona at the end of this season, the Catalans’ results have been excellent and their performances have gradually and consistently improved until this stage where they now head into the run-in hoping to achieve genuinely historic success by winning the UEFA Champions League and still pushing Real Madrid.
The Blaugrana edged past an in-form Cadiz side by a goal to nil in Andalusia at the weekend with a 37th minute winning goal by Joao Felix. They are now unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions as they currently sit eight points behind the aforementioned Madrid with seven games to go in La Liga.
PSG
Luis Enrique, who was quick to have a dig at Xavi last week by saying his style of football is more representative of Barcelona traditions than his former Barca captain, experimented a step too far once again last week with an ineffective performance from Marco Asensio in the ‘false nine’ as Paris Saint-Germain lost the first-leg at Parc des Princes.
Barcelona were dominant and had a 1-0 lead at half-time in the French capital last week but the Parisiens turned the game on its head early on in the second-half before Barcelona eventually came out on top by three goals to two in what was a topsy turvy encounter. They will head to Catalonia still firmly believing they are in the contest.
THE TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
Xavi has been able to recently welcome back both Frenkie de Jong and Pedri to Barcelona’s first-team squad but their fellow key midfielder Gavi remains unavailable due to an ACL injury. Alex Balde is also unavailable for the Blaugrana. Sergi Roberto is out suspended, too.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Gundogan, Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
UNAVAILABLE: Christensen (Suspended), Roberto (Suspended), Balde (Injured), Gavi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
PSG
Luis Enrique has a major boost for this week with defender Achraf Hakimi returning from suspension for this second-leg. There is also an expectation that Bradley Barcola will start ahead of Marco Asensio, too.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez; Ugarte, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola
UNAVAILABLE: Sergio Rico (Injured), Kimpembe (Injured), Kurzawa (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Mukiele (Concussion)
THE KEY STATS
- Barcelona have won their previous four UEFA Champions League home games this season.
- Barcelona have lost only two of their last ten UEFA Champions League matches (W7 D1).
- Barcelona have lost five of their last seven UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties.
- Barcelona have lost only three of their last 20 UEFA competition matches against French teams (W11 D6).
- Barcelona have won five and drawn one of their last six home matches in all competitions.
- Barcelona have only lost one of their previous 21 matches at home in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League quarter-finals (W16 D4). The only defeat was in the second leg the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Juventus (L 2-1 aet – lost 3-2 on agg).
- Lamine Yamal is set to become the youngest player to make 10 UEFA Champions League appearances (GS to F), he will 16 years and 278 days old on the day of this match. The previous youngest was Youri Tielemans who was 17 years and 216 days when he played his 10th match for Anderlecht against Dortmund in December 2014.
- Barcelona have progressed 37 out of the 39 times they won the away first leg in UEFA competition, most recently against Manchester United in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals (1-0 a, 3-0 h).
- Paris have won ten and drawn three of their last 13 away matches in all competitions.
- Paris have won only three of their last 14 UEFA competitions quarter-final matches (D4 L7).
- Paris have not won the second leg of a UEFA competition quarter-final since the 1996/97 Cup Winners’ Cup when they won 3-0 away from home against AEK Athens after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
- Paris have won two of their last three UEFA competition matches away from home against Spanish teams (L1).
- Paris have suffered seven previous home first-leg defeats in UEFA competition, and lost every tie, most recently against Bayern last season.
- Kylian Mbappé has scored two goals in each of his previous two matches away from home in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Two for Monaco in a 3-2 victory vs Dortmund in 2016/17 and two for Paris in a 3-2 victory vs Bayern in 2020/21. *Note this does not include the 2019/20 quarter-finals when Paris faced Atalanta on neutral territory, Mbappé did not score in that match.
THE PREDICTION
The expectation in France and the French media is that Kylian Mbappe will not perform as badly again this time around. He, alongside both Ousmane Dembele and the likely inclusion of Bradley Barcola, means that PSG will be a genuine and real threat on the counter attack in Barcelona this week. Barcelona have some excellent young defenders, such as Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi, but have been a little susceptible at the back and both teams scoring in what should be another high-scoring, entertaining encounter seems likely for this fascinating second-leg.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
