Champions League Rivalry Renewed as PSG and Barcelona Face Off

The clash between Paris Saint-Germain led by Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona is set to take place in the first leg of their highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. This match adds another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between these two powerhouse clubs.

This encounter marks the fifth time within the last 12 seasons that PSG and Barcelona have faced off in the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition. One of the most memorable meetings occurred in 2017 when PSG claimed a 4-0 victory at home in the first leg, only to succumb to a shocking 6-1 defeat in the return leg against a Barcelona side managed by Luis Enrique.

Luis Enrique, now at the helm of PSG, expressed his thoughts on the upcoming game, emphasizing the significance of facing a club he once played for and led to Champions League glory in 2015. Despite his ties to Barcelona, he highlighted his professional commitment to PSG and his determination to secure trophies for the club.

Having never won the Champions League, PSG has faced early exits in five of the past seven years. However, they managed to progress to the last eight this season after defeating Real Sociedad.

The aftermath of the 2017 showdown had far-reaching implications. PSG sought retribution by acquiring Neymar from Barcelona for a record-breaking fee, prompting a spending spree by Barcelona as they sought to rebuild their squad, including the signing of Ousmane Dembele.

Fast forward to recent developments, Dembele was eventually sold to PSG for a significantly lower fee, reflecting Barcelona’s financial struggles and diminishing status as a continental powerhouse.

Meanwhile, Barcelona has shown signs of resurgence under coach Xavi Hernandez, stringing together an unbeaten streak in their recent matches.

Both teams are gearing up for an intense battle, with PSG missing key player Achraf Hakimi due to suspension and Barcelona hoping to field injured midfielders Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.

The outcome of this quarter-final tie will determine the semi-final opponent, either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund.

AFP