UCL Preview: Barcelona vs PSG, key stats, line-ups, odds, prediction

Barcelona will host French giants PSG in the first leg of Champions League round of 16

Stadium: Camp Nou

Key Statistics

Barcelona hold an impeccable record against PSG in the knockout matches, coming out on top in the last three meetings ( 2012-13 quarter-final, 2014-15 quarter-final, 2016-17 round of 16)
The famous remontada happened when these both sides met last time at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona

Despite an almost tumultuous start to life in La Liga, Ronald Koeman has managed to steady the ship of Barcelona, leading them to 11 matches without a defeat. The Dutch manager has instilled a fighting spirit in every player’s mind and looks to have found the right blend of youngsters and experienced ones in his ideal playing 11.

Perhaps, the most important factor is that club captain Lionel Messi is firing on all cylinders. The Argentine might have suffered a dip in his performance at the start of this season, but his form since the turn of the year has been surreal.

Having lost the foothold in Cup competitions and La Liga, the Catalans are hoping to turn things around in the Champions League.

Injured defenders Ronald Araujo and Gerard Pique are reportedly pushing to participate against PSG but it remains to be seen whether they can receive the nod from the medical team.

• Lionel Messi – 2021 Calendar year:

???? 10 games
⚽️ 9 goals
???? 3 assists
????‍♂️52 successful dribbles
???? 25 key passes
2 Free-Kick Goals
2 Outside Of The Box Goals

The best player in the world ????. pic.twitter.com/iaaLBsPjP1
— TotalMessi (@TotalLeoMessi) February 14, 2021

???????? Ronald Araújo and Gerard Piqué will have to pass a final test in training today if they want to have any chance of playing against PSG Tomorrow. Araújo is willing to infiltrate his ankle and Piqué is willing to puch himself to the limits. Today is a key day. ????????

[@EduPolo] pic.twitter.com/1dZx8Vi4ad
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) February 15, 2021

Possible Barcelona line-ups

Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet, Mingueza, Sergino Dest, Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele

Paris Saint-Germain

The odds are stacked up against PSG ahead of Tuesday’s clash as key players Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Juan Bernat are out injured.

Mauricio Pochettino, although he led Paris Saint-Germain to victory in the last game against Nice, faces a dilemma in sorting out the best playing to stop Messi and co on Tuesday.

PSG ended as the finalists in the last season’s Champions League, but it remains to be seen whether they can repeat the similar success this term.

???? Pochettino: "I've seen Barcelona's entire evolution, first from my home in London, when Koeman took over. It's clear that the team is moving to a different stage, to a different chapter." [uefa]— FCBarcelonaFl ???? (@FCBarcelonaFl) February 14, 2021

Possible PSG line-ups:

Keylor Navas; Layvin Kurzawa, Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Alessandro Florenzi; Idrissa Gueye, Leandro Paredes; Marco Verratti, Moise Kean, Kylian Mbappe; Mauro Icardi