The “remount”, the future of Lionel Messi, the Griezmann-Mbappé duel … Despite the absence of Parisian superstar Neymar, ex-blaugrana figure, the FC Barcelona-Paris Saint-Germain poster is full of friction points on Tuesday in the round of 16 first leg of Champions League (9 p.m.). Here are three reasons not to miss the meeting under any circumstances.
“Comeback”, the revenge
The celébrissime «comeback» (“Recovery”, in Spanish) of 2017 (4-0, 1-6) remains the last and the most formidable twist of this long-term series, where the PSG plays the role of the short-lived. Since then, the two teams have not crossed paths in an elimination phase.
In fact, Paris only won the very first confrontation, in 1995, in the quarter-finals, with Vincent Guérin’s winning goal that remained in the memory of the Parc des Princes (1-1, 2-1).
All the others turned to the advantage of the Catalans, from the 1997 Cup final (1-0) until the terrible humiliation of 2017 at Camp Nou.
In eleven matches, PSG have beaten Barça three times, but only won the confrontation once.
The new opus promises, even if the two clubs do not approach it at the top of their form. Barcelona, in the midst of the electoral campaign (the president will be chosen on March 7), is only 3rd in Liga, eight lengths behind the leader, Atlético. The 5-1 victory over Alaves this weekend is not enough to remove doubts.
PSG, used to crushing Ligue 1, remains one point behind the leader, Lille, after a somewhat sluggish victory against Nice (2-1) on Saturday. But despite those absent, “The team will be ready”, hammered the Parisian coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Four French world champions
Without Neymar (ankle) or Angel Di Maria (thigh), both injured, Paris SG relies heavily on Mbappé, promoted leader of the Parisian attack on Tuesday night, to put the team on the rails for qualification.
For this great match with great responsibilities, the Parisian striker can face up to four teammates of the France team, including three world champions.
Antoine Griezmann, in a prosperous start to 2021, with 7 goals and 8 assists in all competitions, and Ousmane Dembélé, who has just reached the 100-match mark in the Catalan jersey, should certainly surround Messi in front.
In defense, the resumption of training of Gerard Pique, after a right knee injury on November 21, was perceived by the Spanish press as a new recruit for Barça, just before the poster.
Piqué could therefore find his place in central defense, no doubt alongside Clément Lenglet, who was not from the blue epic of 2018, or Samuel Umtiti, although he proved to be very erratic. Less than a 100% French Lenglet-Umtiti hinge.
To preserve Mbappé only for the attack, the former captain of PSG, Eric Rabesandratana, consultant on France Bleu Paris, would see “Well a third midfielder with Leandro Paredes and Marco Verratti, to work. Maybe Gana Gueye who was coming back well? “, he asks.
Messi’s future
Can Lionel Messi join PSG at the end of his contract in June? This soap opera, which should shake the next few months, has an excellent launch with this round of 16.
“It wouldn’t be good to say what I’m going to do since I don’t know either”, said the Argentine to goal.com recently. But he could leave Barcelona, and PSG can dream.
For the six-time Ballon d’Or (33 years old), it would not necessarily be his first choice. Perhaps he would prefer to find Pep Guardiola in Manchester City rather than Neymar in Paris, it being understood that the two clubs with “petrodollars” or “gazoeuros” seem the only ones capable of affording the jewel.
Coach Ronald Koeman was annoyed that Leonardo, Parisian sports director, raised the possibility of a Parisian Messi, seeing it as a not very sporting maneuver in view of this double confrontation. Even the Spanish press got involved, criticizing the front page of France Football where Messi was dressed in the Paris SG jersey.
But tensions over the transfer window between the two clubs go back even further than the comeback.
Barça courted, in his time, Marquinhos or Marco Verratti, and the Catalan giant never really digested that the young European ogre stole Neymar from him in 2017.
Mauricio Pochettino was not there, but he, the Espanyol man (7 seasons as a player, 3 as a technician), also has a small personal rivalry with Barça… The sparks can come from anywhere…
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