UCL: Messi, Mbappe Talks Tough As Barcelona, PSG Renew Rivalry

Barcelona are in France on Wednesday for a Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain and have a mountain to climb after going down 4-1 at the Camp Nou.

Ronald Koeman’s side have managed one great comeback recently, in the Copa del Rey against Sevilla, but this is a different task altogether and will be a lot harder.

Yet Barca will head to the Parc des Princes with belief and confidence after a good run of results and let’s hope they can put on a show.

Koeman is without Gerard Pique for this one and there’s no guarantee Ronald Araujo will be fit either. The Uruguayan has not returned yet from ankle trouble, and all eyes will be on the training ground on Tuesday to see if he’s back with the group.

Barcelona will certainly be hoping that Araujo does make it with Koeman likely to stick with three at the back once again. Clement Lenglet, Oscar Mingueza, and Samuel Umtiti are also available and will be hoping to start, while Sergino Dest and Jordi Alba should continue as the two wing-backs

Expect to see Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri in midfield unless Barca suffer any late injuries or Koeman decides to shake things up.

Miralem Pjanic is fit again but still hasn’t earned Koeman’s trust. Youngsters Ilaix Moriba and Riqui Puig may get some Champions League minutes off the bench.

Captain Lionel Messi will lead the team out once again but it will be interesting to see who else Koeman starts up front for Barcelona.

Antoine Griezmann was back in the starting XI at the weekend but did not take his chance and may find himself back on the bench.

Ousmane Dembele looks a good option to start against PSG and is in decent form with two goals in his last three matches in all competitions.

Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Araujo, Lenglet; Dest, De Jong, Busquets, Pedri, Alba; Messi, Dembele.

Neymar is among the Paris Saint-Germain players to be ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at home to Barcelona.

The 29-year-old returned to partial training with the PSG squad last week and the club have confirmed the Brazil forward will continue his fitness work individually, therefore missing out against his former club.

A new assessment on his status will be made by the club in the coming days, while teammates Juan Bernat and on-loan Everton forward Moise Kean, who remains in self-isolation due to Covid-19, will also be absent.

PSG hold a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the second leg at the Parc des Princes, thanks to a first-leg hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe and a goal from Kean when the sides met on February 16.

Lionel Messi gave Barca the lead from the penalty spot after Frenkie de Jong had his heels clipped by Layvin Kurzawa before Mbappe responded five minutes later for the visitors. After the break, Mbappe completed his hat-trick with Moise Kean netting PSG’s third goal in between his team-mate’s second-half strikes.

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It leaves Barca requiring another considerable comeback heading into the second leg on Wednesday, four years on from the sides’ memorable last-16 clash in which the La Liga outfit recovered from a 4-0 first-leg loss in France by winning the second 6-1 at the Nou Camp.