Barcelona vs PSG: Champions League match preview

A look ahead to this week's Champions League fixture at the Nou Camp

James Walters
Tuesday 21 April 2015 11:37 BST
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Luis Suarez and David Luiz compete in the Champions League
Luis Suarez and David Luiz compete in the Champions League (GETTY IMAGES)

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Barcelona host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night in the Champions League quarter-final with the Catalans hoping to finish the job they started last week at the Parc des Princes.

Luis Enrique’s side dominated the the Ligue 1 champions, winning 3-1, with Luis Suarez stealing the limelight after scoring an impressive brace.

The ex-Liverpool talisman has hit the ground running at Barcelona and has 19 goals in 34 appearances since making his £75million move to La Liga.

Jeremy Mathieu’s own goal does offer PSG a glimmer of hope but with Lionel Messi and co losing just one of their last 31 European games at the Nou Camp, the French side’s fate seems already determined.

PSG are boosted with the news that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti return to the starting line-up. However, Laurent Blanc is without defensive anchor Thiago Silva who was forced to exit the first leg with a thigh injury.

David Luiz was embarrassed by Suarez and co last week in Paris and the Brazilian will be praying his fortune has changed for the clash on Tuesday.

Last week’s drubbing means the Catalans have one foot in the Champions League semi-final - which would be their seventh appearance in the final four in the last eight seasons.

Suarez scored twice against PSG in the first leg
Suarez scored twice against PSG in the first leg

Barcelona are still eyeing the treble and their 2-0 victory against Valencia on Saturday kept Enrique’s side at the summit of La Liga, as well as having a Copa Del Rey final to look forward to.

With Messi, Suarez and Neymar leading their front line, expect Barcelona to add silverware to their already crammed trophy cabinet over the next couple of months.

KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7:45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

PSG 1 (Mathieu og) Barcelona 3 (Neymar, Suarez 2), Champions League, April 2015

Barcelona 3 (Messi, Neymar, Suarez) PSG 1 (Ibrahimovic), Champions League, December 2014

PSG 3 (Luiz, Verratti, Metuidi) Barcelona 2 (Messi, Neymar), Champions League, September 2014

STATS:

PSG are aiming to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 1995.

Lionel Messi scored his 400th goal for Barcelona on the weekend, at 27-years-old.

If PSG go out of the competition, it will be their third consecutive last-eight exit.

ODDS:

Barcelona to win: 1.4

PSG to win: 8.5

Draw: 5.5

TV: Live on ITV 1 at 7:45pm

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