According to reports from the French media, PSG has landed in an easier group and has a significant chance of winning their first-ever Champions League title by facing Barcelona in the quarter-finals. The draw, which took place on March 15th at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, determined that PSG would go up against Barcelona in the quarter-finals. The first leg will be held at Parc des Princes on April 10th, followed by the second leg in Spain a week later. The winner of this match will then face either Atletico or Dortmund in the semi-finals. The other group is considered more challenging, with Arsenal taking on Bayern and Manchester City facing Real Madrid.
Le Parisien’s assessment suggests that Barcelona is still in a phase of rebuilding and searching for direction after parting ways with Lionel Messi. The newspaper also mentions rumors of internal divisions within Barcelona, with Sports Director Deco reportedly not supporting coach Xavi. Additionally, Le Parisien criticizes Barcelona’s defense, claiming they currently lack players of the caliber of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique from the past. Barcelona has conceded 34 goals in La Liga this season, ranking 12th in the league, with an average of 1.2 goals conceded per match. Coach Xavi seems to be grappling with how to position Jules Kounde, unsure whether to deploy the French player as a center-back or right-back.
In conclusion, Le Parisien believes that while Barcelona has shown some improvement recently, PSG is still considered the stronger team. The article comments, “The wounds have somewhat healed in the past month and a half, but this underlying fragility of Barcelona will not go unnoticed by coach Luis Enrique.”
On the other hand, L’Équipe takes a slightly less confrontational approach and considers Barcelona to be a young and aspiring team in Europe. However, the newspaper emphasizes that PSG is highly regarded compared to Barcelona, and even against Atletico or Dortmund in the semi-finals if they advance. The article states that it is now or never for PSG’s ambition to win the Champions League for the first time.
Barcelona and PSG have faced each other in five previous knockout stages of the Champions League. PSG emerged victorious in the quarter-finals of the 1994-1995 season and the Round of 16 in the 2020-2021 season. Barcelona progressed to the quarter-finals in the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 seasons and the Round of 16 in the 2016-2017 season.
Following the ceremony in Nyon, Deputy President Rafa Yuste expressed confidence in coach Xavi, who had previously won the Champions League with Barcelona as a player and set the target of reaching the semi-finals. He also expressed satisfaction with not being in the same group as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Yuste said, “You have to respect all opponents, as these are the strongest eight teams in Europe. We have to replicate our performance against Napoli.”