Chances are that Barcelona has already punched their ticket to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. Now, PSG must score three goals without letting one in against a team with the potential to kill you at any time.
Barcelona has only received three goals in its last four games combined. The only team to have scored three on Los Cules is PSG, and it happened when both teams met for the first time in the group stage this season (3-2) in Paris. Then, in the second leg of the group stages, Barcelona won the game 3-1.
Andres Iniesta has been declared fit to return to play this game. He went down in the first leg and bruised his hip, but now he's back to serve Luis Enrique and his team after missing the game against Valencia on Saturday. Vermaelen is the only player that will not play for Barcelona due to a hamstring problem.
Hard to say Barcelona will not score this Tuesday
Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in 7 of their last 8 matches in the Champions League #fcblive [whoscored]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) abril 21, 2015
The main reason that Barcelona has such a clear advantage heading into the game at Camp Nou is the two goals that Luis Suarez scored in the second half, nutmegging David Luiz in the process both times. The Uruguayan striker has six goals in six games with his team when it comes to Champions League games.
Neymar scored in the first leg, but he has only been able to do so four times in the last ten games. As of right now, he has four goals in eight games played for Los Cules in the UCL. Lionel Messi, who just scored his 400th goal with Barcelona in the game against Valencia, has eight goals in the competition.
PSG's manager Laurent Blan knows he is playing against one of the most effective teams in the world. He believes that the home team will have the ball most of the time, just like it has happened in many games ahead of this one. Their chances rely on making the best out of the time the ball is in their possession.
The return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is definitely important for this game. The Swedish striker was the only one to score the last time both teams met in Barcelona, 14 minutes into the game. It was one of his two goals in the UCL this season. Then the MSN trio took matters into their own hands and turned the scoreboard around.
Pastore was one of PSG's best players in the first leg
[stats]: Javier Pastore is involved in 8 goals in the last 10 matches for PSG in Ligue1. pic.twitter.com/2qTdr8hCnJ
— Zlatanera (@zlatanera_psg) abril 20, 2015
Zlatan is joined in Paris' front line by Javier Pastore and Edinson Cavani, who should be able to create some trouble for Pique and the rest of Barcelona's defensive unit. That late goal in Paris might have been what was needed to hope on a possible comeback at the Catalan home.
Thiago Silva, who was important in getting PSG past the Round of 16 against Chelsea, is out for this one with an injury as well as Thiago Motta. Serge Aurier has been suspended for this game. The numbers clearly don't favor PSG, who has scored four of its 14 goals throughout the competition, while Barcelona has 21.
Zlatan can be a scoring machine if he has a good day
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (back from suspension) has scored 10 goals in his last 5 games for PSG #FCBPSG pic.twitter.com/TeMzsKgZzk
— VI STATS (@VI_Stats) abril 21, 2015
This could be a close match if PSG is able to fight the way they plan to do so. It is simple mistakes like the ones they had in the first leg that can give Barcelona another chance to humiliate the French side.
Barcelona vs PSG team sheets
Barcelona's lineup: Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar.
PSG's lineup: Sirigu,Marquinhos,Maxwell,Van der Wiel,David Luiz,Cabaye,Matuidi,Verratti,Pastore,Cavani, Ibrahimović.
Barcelona's subs: Bravo, Bartra, Adriano, Xavi, Rafinha, Sergi Roberto, Pedro.
PSG's subs: Douchez, Camara, Digne, Lucas, Bahebeck, Rabiot, Lavezzi.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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