He Barcelona receives on Tuesday Paris Saint-Germain with the hope of finishing the task started in the French capital and leaving behind the ghosts of the past by reaching the Champions League semi-finals, while PSG wants to return the surprise.
The Catalans won 2-3 at the Parc des Princes last week in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the continental tournament, which boosted the hopes of the Blaugranas, who have not returned to the semifinals since 2019.
“We have a certain advantage, but it is going to be a very difficult game, although we are very eager and the opportunity is very great,” said Barça coach Xavi Hernández this Monday.
PSG vs. Barcelona.
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The victory in Paris served to begin to erase the European ghosts of the Barça team, after its fiascos in the last two seasons in which it could not advance from the group stage.
Barça, who won their last 'Orejona' almost a decade ago in 2015, surprised in Paris driven by a new generation of young people from the house who are supporting a very limited team when it comes to signing.
In the French capital, the right winger Lamine Yamal, 16, and the center back Pau Cubarsí, 17, once again distinguished themselves. Cubarsí, who stands out for a mental tranquility inappropriate for his age, is becoming essential in the Barcelona defense.
His ownership is practically taken for granted on Tuesday, since Danish central defender Andreas Christensen will be out due to suspension. Captain Sergi Roberto will also miss the match for the same reason.
PSG vs. Barcelona.
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Cubarsí was one of the few who did not rotate on Saturday in the League against Cádiz, despite the match with PSG on the horizon, as Yamal did.
“They are two players who ask questions, who want to improve, they always want to be better and that makes them great. Tomorrow is a great European night, it is a very great opportunity to be in the semifinals and for them as players,” said Xavi about his two young jewels
The tranquility of Cubarsí at the back and the hunger of Yamal up front will be key on Tuesday in Montjuic against a PSG that will have no other solution than to go on the attack. After winning the League last season, the Champions League continues to be the pending issue for Barça, which since its victory in 2015 has gone from disappointment to disappointment in Europe, culminating in the humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. 2020.
The semi-finals involve containing PSG on Tuesday under the command of Luis Enrique Martínez, the last coach to win the Champions League with a Barça that still had figures like Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar.
Raphinha's goal celebration
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In Paris, the comeback suffered in Barcelona still stings when PSG arrived at the Camp Nou with a 4-0 lead and ended up falling 6-1, and now it will be up to the French team to continue the same epic to try to reach the semifinals.
“We have to give a better version tomorrow (Tuesday) and go for the game. We are a team that, as a rule, does not speculate and we are convinced that we are going to turn it around,” Luis Enrique declared this Monday.
It is the golden opportunity for the great star of the Parisians, Kylian Mbappé, to appear, stopped by the Catalans in the first leg. After it was announced that he will not continue at PSG at the end of the season, all eyes are on the French attacker, who has scored six goals in this Champions League.
“I see him well, very motivated like the rest of the team. It is time to show that we are ready, that we can win and change what happened in the first leg,” his teammate Achraf Hakimi said this Monday.
Programming
Barcelona vs. PSG
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN
AFP
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