PSG v Barcelona preview: Ligue 1 and La Liga champions go head-to-head in Paris
Tuesday 14 February 2017 20:49, UK
French champions Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.
The two European giants meet at the round-of-16 stage following PSG's second-placed finish in Group A behind Arsenal.
And having reached the quarter-finals in each of their last four seasons, the Parisian club face a battle to repeat that feat when they face Barcelona, who have lifted the trophy four times since 2006.
Liverpool were the last side to knock Barcelona out at the last-16 stage back in 2006-07, with the Catalan club reaching at least the semis in seven of the previous nine seasons.
Team news
Javier Pastore faces a late fitness test for PSG having recently returned from a knee injury, with coach Unai Emery saying the midfielder is not yet ready to play for a full 90 minutes.
Barcelona defender Aleix Vidal suffered a dislocated ankle on the weekend and will be out for around five months - with Arda Turan and Javier Mascherano already ruled out.
Rafinha has been declared fit for the tie, while Gerard Pique returns to the squad having been rested for their 6-0 win at Alaves.
Opta stats
The only time PSG eliminated Barcelona in the Champions League was in 1994/95 quarter-finals (3-2 on aggregate). Since then, Barcelona have won their two knockout encounters with the Parisian club (2012/13, 2014/15).
Barcelona have won their last three games against PSG (eight scored, two conceded).
PSG have also never kept a clean sheet against Barcelona (nine games, all competitions).
PSG have lost only one of their last 42 home games in European competition (W26 D15), it came against Barcelona in April 2015 in the Champions League quarter-finals (1-3).
Meanwhile, Barcelona have won nine of their last 11 games in the Champions League knockout stages (L2).
PSG have also gone past the last 16 in each of their previous four campaigns but have always subsequently been knocked out in the quarter-finals.
Edinson Cavani has scored six goals in as many games in the Champions League this season, which equals his best tally in the competition (6 in 2014/15). However, he's never scored in 350 minutes of Champions League action against Barcelona.
Lionel Messi scored 10 goals in the 2016/17 Champions League group stages, the second-most in the competition's group phase after Cristiano Ronaldo's 11 last season.
Charlie's prediction
It should be a cracking game this as PSG will be aware that they need to go for it being at home.
PSG have struggled to be as dominant in the league without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Edinson Cavani has scored a lot of goals but isn't the same quality, although his pace and movement is exceptional.
Luis Enrique has chopped and changed the defence but Samuel Umtiti is looking more solid. Their midfield has been lacking something with Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets just coming back from periods out. Ivan Rakitic is a good workman in the team, but he's not a real playmaker.
Neymar scoring at the weekend is a boost as he's been pretty poor, so the three amigos will be up for this and I'm expecting plenty of goals.
Charlie predicts: 2-2 and Cavani to score first - 45/1 with Sky Bet
Betting
Barcelona are Sky Bet's 13/10 favourites on Tuesday night, with PSG 21/10 to establish a first-leg lead while the draw is priced at 13/5. The French champions drifted out to 28/1 to lift the trophy after being drawn against 3/1 favourites Barcelona, with odds of 11/4 on them to knock Luis Enrique's men out.
Despite being outsiders on the night, it is PSG's leading scorer Cavani who heads the first goalscorer market at 7/2, while Messi and Luis Suarez close behind at 4/1 apiece. Sky Bet's pre-match Price Boosts offer Cavani and Messi both to score enhanced from 7/2 to 9/2.
Find out what the Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp are predicting in their Sky Bet tips here.
