PSG vs Barcelona Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
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THE FACTS
When is PSG vs Barcelona on and what time does it start? PSG vs Barcelona will take place on Wednesday 10th April, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for PSG vs Barcelona? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is PSG vs Barcelona on in the UK? PSG vs Barcelona will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream PSG vs Barcelona in the UK? PSG vs Barcelona can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
PSG
It has been a really impressive few months for Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions begin to really adapt to the style of football that former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is implementing at Parc des Princes. Luis Enrique has already discussed the hope and possibility of sending off Kylian Mbappe with a treble.
They do, though, come into this one on the back of being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-of-the-table and Ligue 2-bound Clermont in their most recent outing, last weekend. They are in the final of the Coupe de France, though, sit ten points clear in Ligue 1 and are in the favourable side of this season’s UEFA Champions League draw.
BARCELONA
Ever since Xavi announced that he would be departing Barcelona at the end of the season, the Catalans have majorly improved and are now currently enjoying an 11-match unbeaten run of form across all competitions. They have eased their way into second spot above Girona in La Liga and enter the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in a very good groove.
The Blaugrana had the weekend off with the attention on the final of the Copa del Rey in Spain so Barca’s last match came a couple of weeks ago and saw them edge past Canary Islanders Las Palmas by a goal to nil. Alex Valles was sent off in the 24th minute of that match before Raphinha scored a second-half winning goal.
THE TEAM NEWS
PSG
Paris Saint-Germain are without key defender Achraf Hakimi due to suspension, whilst the likes of Sergio Rico, Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa and Bradley Barcola are missing through injury. Warren Zaire-Emery is also a doubt for PSG but Luis Enrique has said that either he or Marquinhos will start at right-back with Nordi Mukiele missing with a concussion.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira, Skriniar, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Ugarte, Fabian Ruiz; Dembele, Goncalo Ramos, Mbappe
UNAVAILABLE: Sergio Rico (Injured), Kimpembe (Injured), Mukiele (Concussion), Hakimi (Suspended), Kurzawa (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Zaire-Emery (Injured), Barcola (Injured)
BARCELONA
Xavi remains without injured midfielders Gavi and Pedri as we head into the crucial part of the campaign. They are joined on the sidelines by their compatriot, Alex Balde, whilst Frenkie de Jong could return from an ankle injury but remains a doubt.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Joao Cancelo; Fermin Lopez, Christensen, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
UNAVAILABLE: Balde (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Pedri (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: De Jong (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- This is the fourth time that Paris and Barcelona have met in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie. Paris won the first in 1994/95, Barcelona won the two most recent in 2012/13 and in 2014/15.
- This is Paris's eighth appearance in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and first since 2020/21 when they progressed through to the semi-finals with a victory against Bayern on away goals.
- Paris have won their last two UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties.
- Paris have lost only one of their previous six UEFA competition matches at home against Barcelona (W3 D2).
- Paris have lost only one of their last 12 UEFA Champions League matches at home (W9 D2).
- Paris have lost only two of their last 14 UEFA club competition matches at home against Spanish teams (W7 D5).
- Paris have only failed to score in two of their last 37 UEFA Champions League matches at home.
- Paris have lost only one of their last eight UEFA Champions League matches against Spanish teams (W5 D2).
- Paris have lost the first leg in only one of their last seven UEFA competition two-legged quarter-final ties (W2 D4). The only defeat was their 3-1 home defeat against Barcelona in the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League.
- Kylian Mbappé has scored 11 goals in his last 11 appearances in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.
- Kylian Mbappé has scored in his last six matches against Spanish teams in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds (4 in 2 games vs Barcelona, 2020/21 R16; 2 in 2 games vs Real Madrid, 2021/22 R16 and 3 in 2 games vs Real Sociedad, 2023/23 R16).
- This is Barcelona’s 23rd European Cup/Champions League appearance and first since 2019/20.
- Overall, this is Barcelona’s 40th UEFA competition quarter-final. Only Real Madrid (48) and Bayern (43) have more.
- Barcelona have lost five of their last seven UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties.
- Barcelona have won five and drawn one of their previous eight UEFA Champions League matches this season (W5 D1 L2).
- Barcelona have lost the first leg in only one of their last 15 two-legged UEFA competition quarter-final ties (W7 D7).
- Barcelona have won only one of their last 12 UEFA Champions League knockout phase matches outside of Barcelona (D5 L6).
- Barcelona have lost only three of their last 19 UEFA competition matches against French teams (W10 D6).
- Barcelona have only failed to score in two of their previous 27 UEFA competition matches against French teams.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 13 goals in his last 13 appearances in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.
THE PREDICTION
This is the fifth time these two teams have met in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League since the 2012/13 campaign. There have some remarkable encounters, such as the famous ‘remontada’ of 2017, where Barcelona won the second-leg by six goals to one to overturn a four-goal deficit, but the more recent 2020/21 Round of 16 tie, where PSG hammered Barca by four goals to one at Camp Nou is a fairer reflection of where these two sides are. PSG have reached further than Barcelona in each of the last four UEFA Champions Leagues, arguably have a better squad and are definitely playing a more cohesive manner – even with Barcelona’s improvement since Xavi’s announcement. As a result, especially with first-leg home advantage, backing them is the way to go for this one.
TIP: PSG TO WIN
