Champions League Preview: PSG vs Barca Team news

It’s been a long winter and things could not be going better for FC Barcelona. 

As spring begins to rear its pretty little head, hibernating creatures emerge from their long slumbers, ready to get back on the road to Wembley. 

The winter posed many questions for the often-favored blaugrana, whom fought and stuttered several times against tough opponents Real Madrid and AC Milan.

 And although a shot at the Copa Del Rey will have to wait until next year, fans of the Catalan crusaders have mounds to be excited over.

Team News

FC Barcelona

Éric Abidal and Tito Vilanova near the end of their long roads to recovery, while denouncers of the aging Xavi Hernández were silenced following Barcelona’s triumphant performance in the most recent UCL match against AC Milan.

Vilanova traveled with the squad though manager pro tempore Jordi Roura is still expected oversee the managerial duties.

Xavi, who missed the weekend’s disappointing last-minute 2-2 draw at Celta de Vigo, traveled with the squad to Paris and will likely get the chance to dictate pace from midfield once again.

In between the sticks will be the spectacular Victor Valdés, whom, to the chagrin of many a French, is more than ready to stop some serious shots following the tremendous outing he had in Spain’s World Cup qualifier against Les Bleus last week.

Left back Jordi Alba, afflicted by the FIFA virus, gets the nod after a quick recovery and will almost certainly start over Martín Montoya, whose progress is coming along nicely despite the very limited playing time offered by Vilanova and Roura.

While the back line is certainly lacking experience among the substitutes, the last few months have provided only a handful of chances to tinker with lineups given the disarray caused by Tito’s absence. 

La Masia defensive products Montoya and Marc Bartra still have plenty of work to do and veterans to surpass before earning starting spots. 

Given Abidal’s recovery, only time will tell if a more stable coaching staff will lead to more opportunities for the young bloods.

Carles Puyol still recovers from last month’s knee surgery while Pedro Rodriguez’ suspension conveniently coincides with his injury while with La Roja. 

Adriano is also ruled out through a hamstring injury. Alongside Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Piqué and Daniel Alves will all feature in back.

The midfield trio of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and the great pivote Sergio Busquets will look to add to their tremendous success together in Europe. 

But if Vilanova/Roura opt to bench Xavi, expect Cesc Fàbregas or Thiago Alcântara to start in his place. 

Such a move could force Iniesta out wide or Cesc down low, to alternate between false nine and false ten with Lionel Messi.

Alongside the Argentine, spreading the defense, will be the young Cristián Tello, whose goal and assist against Vigo are a testament to his capacity to play among the best. 

Tello can play on both sides which means David Villa and Alexis Sánchez are in direct competition for a spot. 

Alexis’ work rate could earn him a spot, especially considering Villa’s poor form in the CL this season.

Predicted starting XI: Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Tello, Messi, Villa

Paris Saint-Germain

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, Thiago Silva, Javier Pastore, Lucas Moura. Carlo Ancelotti’s side boasts a list names almost as scary as their Catalan opponents. 

Well, maybe the name Beckham doesn’t instill the fear it used to, but there is certainly enough talent in that 37-year-old right foot to give Barcelona quite a mountain to climb for the second leg–and he’s not even guaranteed to start. Essentially, Ancelotti goes into the match with a full-strength squad, save one injury.

Midfeld enforcer, Brazilian ex-pat, Italian international and former blaugrana Thiago Motta will miss out on the first leg thanks to a groin injury sustained in training, with Marco Verratti expected to take his place. 

French international Blaise Matuidi will likely start in central midfield along with South American duo Lucas Moura and Pastore.

Another ex-blaugrana, Maxwell, will most likely start at left back along with countrymen Thiago Silva and Alex, and Gregory van der Wiel or Christophe Jallet will look to track Alba and Iniesta from right back.

Salvatore Sirigu will likely start in net given his solid form for the Parisians this season.

Leading the charge will be the inconsistent but gifted Ezequiel Lavezzi and the Swedish Ferrari that is Ibrahimovic.

Predicted starting XI: Sirigu; Jallet, Thiago Silva, Alex, Maxwell; Matuidi, Verratti; Lucas, Pastore, Lavezzi; Ibrahimovic

Did you know…?

Tuesday’s will be the fourth meeting between Barça and PSG, with a draw and a win for each of them in the previous three

PSG, who are in the Champions League quarter final for the second time in their history, haven’t lost at home in the competition since November 2006

The Champions League quarter final first leg between PSG-FCB has thrown up a number of interesting facts which we detail below:

• Tuesday’s will be the fourth game between the two teams in European competitions. PSG won 2-1 in the 1993-4 Champions League quarter finals, with the two drawing 1-1 at the Camp Nou in the first leg and in the 1997 Cup Winners Cup Final Barça won 1-0. 

• The two also met in a friendly on August 4th 2012 at the Parc des Princes which ended in a 2-2 draw. 

• Barça have played against French opposition on 15 occasions, winning nine times, and drawing and losing three times. In France, they have won three times, lost twice and drawn twice. 

• PSG have beaten La Liga teams nine times, lost five games and drawn four, but have only lost once at home to teams from the Spanish league.

• Although this is only their second appearance in the quarter finals, PSG are unbeaten at home in Europe since November 2006, when Hapoel Tel-Aviv beat them 2-4 in the UEFA Cup. In the 23 games since then, they have remained unbeaten. 

• Barça have won all of their last six Champions League quarter finals, with the last defeat coming in the 2002/03 season against Juventus. 

• Barça will face two ex-players in Paris – Maxwell and Ibrahimovic, whilst another, Motta is injured. 

• The last time Barça played an official game in French capital was in 2006, when they beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League final at Saint-Denis.

• During that season’s competition, Barça overcame AC Milan (0-1 and 0-0), who were coached by the current PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti. 

• For seven Barça players -Valdés, Piqué, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc and Villa – this will be their second game in seven days in Paris, after they were involved in Spain’s 0-1 win over France last week.

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