- Paris meet Barcelona in third knockout contest in five seasons
- Unai Emery: “We don’t feel inferior to anyone”
- Paris have won ten of last 11 fixtures in all competitions
- Azulgrana looking to reach quarters for tenth straight campaign
- Barcelona boss Luis Enrique due to address media at 18:15CET
Possible line-ups
Paris: Trapp; Aurier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Verratti, Rabiot, Matuidi; Lucas, Cavani, Draxler.
Out: Thiago Motta (suspended)
Doubtful: Javier Pastore (muscle problem)
Misses next match if booked: Marquinhos
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitić, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar.
Out: Arda Turan (groin). Javier Mascherano (hamstring), Aleix Vidal (ankle)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Unai Emery, Paris coach
It should be a good, attractive tie. It’ll come down to who plays better at crucial moments, who gets their tactics right and who wins the duels on the pitch. We want to seize this chance because we’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe and the world. The squad is very motivated. We don’t feel inferior to anyone. We have very important players who are growing at PSG and who want to write a wonderful story, as individuals and with PSG.
Luis Enrique, Barcelona coach
To follow
Weekend results
Bordeaux 0-3 Paris (Cavani 6 47, Di MarĂa 40)
Edinson Cavani took his recent tally to nine goals in six games as Paris won for the tenth time in 11 matches in all competitions.
Alavés 0-6 Barcelona (Luis Suárez 37 67, Neymar 40, Messi 59, Alexis og 63, Rakitić 65)
All three members of Barcelona’s revered ‘MSN’ forward line were on the mark as Luis Enrique’s men picked up their 12th victory in their last 16 outings in all competitions.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Paris: WWWWDW
Barcelona: WDWWDW
Reporter’s view: Chris Burke (@UEFAcomChrisB)
For Paris, the moment of truth arrives early. Eliminated in the quarters for the last four seasons, they now face a mammoth test to even reach that far – and they appear more vulnerable than in recent knockout meetings with Barcelona. This remains a transitional period for the French champions, though it’s not all doom and gloom. Emery’s charges have won ten of their last 11 fixtures, with Cavani in sensational form and January signing Julian Draxler already adding brio. If everything clicks, they may be capable.
Did you know?
Luis Enrique was in the Real Madrid team eliminated by Paris in both the 1992/93 UEFA Cup quarter-finals and the 1993/94 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals. Read more in our extensive match background.
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