Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona predictions: Heavyweights may have to settle for draw

Aidan Perkins

Spotlight

Luis Enrique will be aiming to beat former club Barca

- PSG are 10 points clear at the top in France
- Barca are second in LaLiga, eight points behind Real Madrid
- Recommended bet: Draw

Barcelona go to Paris Saint-Germain for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final looking to ruin the French giants' ongoing dream of finally being crowned European kings.

These two are no strangers in the knockout stages of the competition, of course.

PSG knocked out the Catalan giants 5-2 on aggregate at the last-16 stage three years ago, while Barca famously overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit in 2017 at the same stage when winning the second leg at home 6-1.

This time around we may not be in for quite the same drama as that 'Remontada' and more of a tactical battle could play out in Paris.

Team news

Star men Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and fit-again captain Marquinhos were named on the bench at the weekend for the disappointing 1-1 draw with bottom-club Clermont for PSG but all should start in midweek.

Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola and Nuno Mendes are others set to return to the XI for the hosts, but Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico are all out injured and Achraf Hakimi is suspended.

Xavi will have his eyes on making the Champions League semis

Barca, meanwhile, are still without Gavi and Alejandro Balde but Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are all in with a chance of being passed fit for the first leg after recently returning to training.

The stats

PSG chief Luis Enrique spent just under three years in charge of Barca between 2014-2017, winning LaLiga twice and the Champions League in 2015.

Mbappe's six goals in this season's competition means he is the joint top leading goalscorer.

PSG are on a 27-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Barca's unbeaten run stretches to 11 matches and they have won four on the bounce going into Wednesday's tie.

The latest Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

With Barca sitting eight points behind leaders Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, Champions League glory remains their best hope of a trophy in what is left of the season.

However, this Barcelona outfit can hardly be described as a vintage Blaugrana side, reflected by the fact they are 10/1 outsiders to win the Champions League with LiveScore Bet this season.

PSG's quest for European glory is well-documented and they will again hope this is finally the year.

Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich may well have plenty to say about that, but, for now, Enrique's main aim will be to successfully negotiate this quarter-final.

He will want a home win to take over to Spain for the second leg later this month but may have to ultimately settle for a draw.

Back the draw at 27/10 with LiveScore Bet