This Tuesday, Barcelona faces the chance to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in five years, aiming to amend their recent struggles in the competition against a vengeful Paris Saint-Germain. Despite a 2-3 deficit from the first leg, Barcelona’s resurgence under Xavi Hernández has been remarkable since his announcement of departure in January.
Since then, Barcelona hasn’t tasted defeat, tallying ten wins and three draws. Most notably, their defensive solidity has returned, conceding only nine goals since Xavi’s announcement. This defensive maturity was evident in their previous encounter at the Parc des Princes, where they managed to contain Kylian Mbappé effectively.
For the upcoming clash, Xavi will field a defensive trident of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, and Pau Cubarsí, supported by Joao Cancelo as a deep-lying left-back. Despite the absence of key players like Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen due to suspension, Pedri will fill in, having recovered from a recent injury.
Upfront, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal will lead the attack, with Joao Félix providing backup from the bench. However, this match presents a different challenge from their historic comeback seven years ago against PSG.
On the Parisian side, coach Luis Enrique is banking on a resurgence, particularly with the return of Achraf Hakimi, whose absence in the first leg disrupted their defensive structure. The Moroccan’s offensive prowess adds another dimension to PSG’s game plan.
Moreover, PSG is counting on a revitalized Kylian Mbappé, who underperformed in the first leg. With the support of Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembelé, PSG aims to overturn the deficit and secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Both teams are poised for a thrilling encounter, with Barcelona seeking redemption and PSG eager to assert their dominance. It’s a clash of titans with high stakes, where anything can happen on the grand stage of European football.
