Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have played twelve games against each other so far, and the numerical balance is balanced: in addition to four draws, both sides have won four times, and the overall goal difference is also only a hair’s breadth, 23-21, in favor of the French. But when they met in the knockout stages, in the round of 16 or the quarter-finals, Barca advanced three times out of five. Most recently, in 2021, however, PSG won 4-1 with a hat-trick away from home in the round of 16, so a 1-1 draw suited them perfectly in the second leg. It was that game his last appearance in the BL for Barca, because he just moved to PSG in the summer, where he spent two seasons.
Two years ago, Kylian Mbappé caused a lot of problems for the Barcelona team Photo: MTI/EPA/Alberto Estevez
So, we could say that the last meeting with Barcelona is a fond memory for PSG fans, and it is so, but all this is overridden by the immeasurable annoyance caused to them by the quarter-final duel between the two teams back in 2017. At that time, the French won the first match at home 4-0, and it didn’t even cross their minds that they could be eliminated. But it happened, and they were beaten 6-1 at the Nou Camp, with a two-goal deficit in the 87th minute. In the hair then in the 88th and 91st minutes (for the second time out of 11), and then Sergi Roberto opened the scoring for PSG in the 95th minute.
After the meeting, Paris Saint-Germain accused German Deniz Aytekin of 15 refereeing errors in a list, mainly that he awarded 11 in the 90th minute in favor of the Catalans.
It is now a side story that Neymar moved to Paris that summer, since, like Messi, he is no longer there. Barcelona’s head coach at the time and the forge of success – he led the team to the Champions League victory in 2015 Luis Enrique – however, has been in charge of Paris Saint-Germain since last July. Today’s match is therefore very special for him, but also because he was a Barcelona player between 1996 and 2004. And for many years, he is currently Barca’s coach and Xavi’s teammate.
I don’t know Xavi as a coach, only as a teammate. I know the club and the players very well, but I don’t know if that is an advantage. From an emotional point of view, this meeting is a huge experience for me, and I feel that I am ready for it. I’m doing my job, I have to be professional. I like Barca, but right now I’m dealing with my own team first and foremost. I think in the match both teams will try to put pressure on the other and possession will be the focus
Luis Enrique said at yesterday’s press conference.
The ultras of Paris Saint-Germain cannot forget, Barcelona will be an eternal enemy
It is certain that the ultras of PSG are also trying to put pressure on the Catalans, and they are not exactly preparing in a sporting way. Already in their team’s league match last Saturday, in which the leader in the list only finished 1-1 against Clermont in a strong reserve lineup at home, they scolded Barcelona in chorus.
And Sunday night they addressed in a statement to all the PSG fans to create an atmosphere in the Parc des Princes stadium today where, to quote: “the vile Barcelona, so often favored by the referees, feel under pressure in hostile territory”.
Paris Saint-Germain leads the French league by ten points, and was last beaten 2-1 by Milan in the Champions League group stage on November 7. Barcelona are in second place in La Liga, eight points behind Real Madrid, but have won their last four games, including a 3-0 away win over Atlético Madrid.
PSG’s line-up for the group match against Newcastle United:
🇫🇷 Ultras of Paris Saint Germain at home vs Newcastle United 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/l0wpgKDOoX
— 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 (@thecasualultra) November 28, 2023
Atlético Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
In today’s other meeting, Atlético Madrid, the 4th place in La Liga, hosts Borussia Dortmund, after in the previous round the Spaniards knocked out Internazionale, who many had envisioned in the BL final, in a penalty shootout. Atlético’s head coach, Diego Simeone, has won 49 games in the Champions League as a coach, and he wants to celebrate today. And although Dortmund is only in fifth place in the Bundesliga, Atlético cannot take today’s match lightly. Borussia remained undefeated in their last seven BL meetings – four wins, three draws – and five of those matches were played in a group featuring PSG, Milan and Newcastle United. And finished in first place in this group, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain by three points.
Champions League, quarter-finals, first matches, today’s program:
Paris Saint-Germain (France)–Barcelona (Spanyol) 9.00pm (TV: M4 Sport)
Atlético Madrid (Spain)–Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 21.00 (TV: Sport 1).
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