Champions League: Barcelona meets PSG for 1st time since epic 6-1 comeback win

The final time Barcelona hosted Paris Saint-Germain, it was one of many best comebacks in Champions League historical past.
The identical groups will meet Tuesday on the Camp Nou for the primary time since Barcelona routed PSG 6-1 practically 4 years in the past.
“That game will go down in history,” Barcelona ahead Ousmane Dembélé mentioned forward of the primary leg of this 12 months’s spherical of 16. “There will be revenge in the air due to the media trying to spice things up. However, we don’t talk about it in the squad because we know it’ll be a difficult game. We know Paris, they are the current Champions League runners-up. They are among the favorites to win the trophy.”
Things have modified since that match in 2017, with PSG getting nearer and nearer to the title and Barcelona coming off one among its worst seasons ever amid political turmoil and monetary struggles. While PSG made it to the ultimate final season, Barcelona misplaced to Bayern Munich 8-2 within the quarterfinals. The Catalan membership hasn’t reached the ultimate since 2015, when it gained its final European title.
Barcelona and PSG additionally met within the knockout spherical of the Champions League in 2013 and 2015, with the Spanish powerhouse popping out on high every time. PSG final superior previous Barcelona within the 1995 quarterfinals. Only Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have confronted one another extra occasions within the Champions League since 2013.
“This is a special game,” new PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned Monday. “I can feel that the match is important for the team. Winning the UEFA Champions League is the main goal for the club.”
Neymar was with Barcelona throughout that historic 6-1 end result within the final 16, scoring twice and main the membership to victory after a 4-0 loss in Paris within the first leg. He’s now with PSG, however the Brazilian gained’t be enjoying on Tuesday due to an harm. PSG additionally gained’t have ahead Ángel Di Maria out there.
“I’m not going to lie, personally I think it’s better that a player like Neymar won’t be playing,” Barcelona defender Jordi Alba mentioned Monday. “It’s an important absence for them, like is Di María’s, who is a great player and helps a lot defensively and offensively.”
Barcelona additionally has some gamers sidelined, although it’s possible that captain Gerard Piqué will return to motion after an extended interval nursing a knee harm. Others absences for Barcelona embrace Ronald Araújo, Philippe Coutinho and Sergi Roberto, who scored the sixth objective 5 minutes into stoppage time to seal Barcelona’s comeback in 2017.
“For any team it is important to have all your players available,” Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman mentioned. “Di María and Neymar are great players but we also have people missing who make us a stronger side. Both teams have important players missing.”
The assembly in opposition to PSG comes at an ideal time for Barcelona. The group has recovered from a poor begin to the season and has Messi in high type, having scored 9 targets within the final 9 matches in all competitions.
“I have faith in my team and in my players. It’s clear that we have improved, the results have shown that,” mentioned Koeman, whose group has gained seven of its final eight video games in all competitions, with its solely setback a 2-0 loss at Sevilla within the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals final week.
Koeman mentioned all of the speak about a doable switch by Messi to PSG is just not affecting his group. The Argentina nice wished to go away the membership on the finish of final season however had his request denied. His contract ends this season.
“I’m not sure what the intention is, I’m not going to get into that,” Koeman mentioned. “I have to prepare my players and Messi is a Barcelona player. And I have a lot of hope that he will stay with Barcelona.”
A Champions League title might assist persuade Messi to remain, however first Barcelona should get previous a well-recognized foe that wishes to show itself in opposition to an previous rival.
LEIPZIG VS. LIVERPOOL
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann is trying ahead to a different duel with compatriot Jürgen Klopp, who’s going by his hardest interval as Liverpool coach. Nagelsmann was Hoffenheim coach when he misplaced out to Klopp’s Liverpool of their Champions League playoff in 2017 with 2-1 and 4-2 defeats.
It’s unlikely to be as one-sided this time round, with Leipzig trying stable in second place within the Bundesliga and having fun with a four-game successful run. Liverpool has misplaced 5 of its final seven aggressive video games however Nagelsmann remains to be cautious of the English champions’ risk. “Slight favorites on account of international experience,” Nagelsmann mentioned.
“But I see us as capable of being at the same level as Liverpool on a top day with a top performance and united team effort.” Leipzig’s dwelling recreation is happening in Budapest as a result of German authorities wouldn’t grant the Liverpool group exemptions from journey restrictions amid fears of coronavirus mutations.