for a semi-final, PSG must win by two goals against Barça

2024-04-15 13:18:21

Beaten (3-2) by Barcelona in the first leg, PSG and Kylian Mbappé have no other choice but to win in Catalonia on Tuesday evening to hope to qualify for the semi-final of the Champions League.

Victory or elimination. Beaten (3-2) in the first leg, PSG will play a crucial return match on Tuesday April 16 once morest Barça in Catalonia, only victory for which might allow them to reach the semi-final of the Champions League.

Facing its great European rival since the 2017 “comeback”, an elimination of Paris would be a new European disappointment, once morest a Barça within its reach. But the statistics are not optimistic: no French team, including PSG, has qualified for the next round in C1 following losing the first leg at home.

With a week of rest – no match this weekend in Ligue 1 unlike Barça in La Liga – PSG must win by two goals to qualify directly or by one goal to play extra time.

The multiple confrontations, transfers (Neymar, Messi, Dembélé) and tense relations (concerning the Super League project) between the two clubs have led to a singular rivalry in Europe since the takeover of PSG by the Qatari fund QSI in 2011.

Succeeding on Tuesday to overthrow and eliminate Barça at home would completely erase the trauma of the famous “comeback” of March 2017, when Paris was overthrown 6-1 in the return in the round of 16 following winning 4-0 in the first leg. .

Since then, the capital club has already taken revenge in 2021 but without an audience (4-1, 1-1). This reversal would be more significant for Paris, led by former Barcelona player Luis Enrique, who led Barça in 2017.

Even if PSG had started the season by downplaying the importance of the C1, the Spaniard’s good results and the prospect of facing Atlético Madrid or Dortmund in the semi-final, opponents within his reach, have changed the club’s objectives.

An exit in the quarter-finals would plunge supporters, players and management into the disarray specific to the club’s successive eliminations in C1.

Delicate sporting period for Mbappé

For the match of the season, far from its bases where Paris is not very comfortable this season in C1 (two defeats, a draw, a victory), PSG will have to count on its executives, who failed in great ways during of the first leg, Donnarumma and Mbappé in the first place.

After his mediocre performance at the Parc des Princes, Kylian Mbappé, who is going through a delicate sporting period, will be eagerly awaited at the Lluís-Companys Olympic Stadium.

In the event of elimination, the number 7 who announced his departure to his management at the end of the season and who is expected to join Real Madrid, would play his last Champions League match under the Parisian colors.

But Mbappé also has the possibility of finishing on a good note and will certainly want to make an impression in Spain, once morest the Merengue’s eternal rival.

He will be able to help himself from the two other French people on the attacking front: his friend Ousmane Dembélé, scorer once morest his former club last Wednesday and who will find his connection on the right with Achraf Hakimi, suspended on the first leg. But also from Bradley Barcola, who is returning from a hamstring injury.

Returning at half-time, the former Lyonnais, who should start on Tuesday, brought percussion and created spaces, helped by full-back Nuno Mendes, the best Parisian in the first round.

Apart from Presnel Kimpembe (long term), no absence is to be deplored in the group communicated Monday by PSG.

Still in the running to achieve a hat-trick (C1, Coupe de France, championship) in his first season in Paris, Luis Enrique, fan of permanent turnover and versatility, has several areas to improve between now and Tuesday.

Beaten tactically by his former teammate Xavi, the technician had not sufficiently anticipated the surplus in the middle and the fixing work of Robert Lewandowski.

Apart from possession of the ball, his game plan proved ineffective once morest his former club. And this was reflected by wanderings in defense, where Lucas Beraldo missed his game and where Donnarumma was too feverish in his goals.

“They managed to put us in difficulty with this change in timing of play forward towards Lewandowski and by controlling the game in midfield,” commented following the match captain Marquinhos, who will find the central hinge in Barcelona.

It’s simple: Paris, which had not lost since November 7 once morest AC Milan (1-2), will need profound readjustments, a great Mbappé and a more solid Donnarumma in Catalonia to have any hope reach the semi-finals, which the club has not reached since 2021.

With AFP

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