Barcelona vs PSG predictions and match preview for Tuesday’s game in the UEFA Champions League. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as the knockout stages commence.
- DATE: Tuesday 16th February 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Camp Nou
- COMPETITION: UEFA Champions League
Barcelona vs PSG Preview
All eyes will be on Camp Nou on Tuesday ahead of a mouth-watering Champions League last 16 clash between Barcelona and PSG. The injury absence of Neymar takes some of the spice out of this tie but clearly this is still a massively important moment in the seasons of these two clubs, with Leo Messi’s rumoured summer switch to Paris the unavoidable subplot.
Despite their flaws, Barcelona will be much more confident about their prospects in this tie than they were when the draw was made. Indeed Neymar’s absence perhaps makes the Catalans the slight favourites to progress over the two legs but memories of recent shortcomings in this competition are still raw for Barça and their fans.
This tie will be the acid test of whether progress has really been made under Ronald Koeman. Since the miserable 3-0 home defeat to Juventus, which cost them top spot in their group, Barcelona have found a new lease of life with 7 straight league wins, the latest of which came via a convincing 5-1 margin against Alaves at the weekend with Messi firing in two fine long-range strikes. However there are still doubts about whether they can do it against elite opposition or whether their flaws will again be ruthlessly exposed by one of the continent’s best teams.
While much of the talk will surround Barcelona’s recent record of woeful European exits, let’s not forget that PSG have not visited this ground or faced this opposition since their horrendous collapse in 2017 when they lost 6-1 in Catalunya at this stage, having won the 1st Leg 4-0 in Paris. It’s a different PSG now but it’s still one that has yet to win this trophy, despite finally reaching the final in 2020.
It’s 8 wins from 9 games in domestic competition for PSG heading into this match but the general consensus is that they aren’t quite operating on the same level this season and they have already suffered 7 defeats in all competitions, more than in the whole of the 2019/20 campaign. The prospect of Kylian Mbappé being let loose on an unconvincing Barcelona defence will be giving home fans sleepless nights but PSG fans will have legitimate concerns of their own, particularly with Messi back towards his best.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Barcelona Wins, 2 PSG Wins.
- The clubs haven’t met since that stunning Barca comeback four years ago when they overturned a 4-0 1st Leg deficit, winning 6-1 at Camp Nou.
- Barcelona have won 4 of the last 5 meetings overall.
- PSG have let in 11 goals across their last 3 trips to Barcelona.
Team News
Gerard Piqué has trained again for Barcelona but it would still be a surprise if he made the starting eleven here after a long absence. Ronald Araujo, Martin Braithwaite and Sergi Roberto are also sidelined.
Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat are all sidelined through injury for PSG. Marco Verratti is rated doubtful.
Predicted Barcelona Starting Lineup:
Ter Stegen – Dest, Umtiti, Lenglet, Alba – Busquets, De Jong, Pedri – Dembele, Messi, Griezmann (4-3-3)
Predicted PSG Starting Lineup:
Navas – Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa – Gueye, Paredes – Kean, Veratti, Mbappe – Icardi (4-2-3-1)
Barcelona vs PSG Predictions
Score Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 PSG
Barcelona look in much better shape now than they did when they were hammered at home by Juventus in their final group game. This is a tie that is likely to serve up a few goals with defensive flaws in both camps. Messi is likely to be the difference maker here, but PSG look well capable of getting an away goal that would keep this tie in the balance heading into the 2nd Leg in the French capital.
UEFA Champions League Betting Tips (18+)
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