Barcelona - PSG: Mission Impossible

(Baonghean.vn)- The task of turning the tables after a crushing 0-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at home is considered 'impossible' forBarcelona.

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Barcelona are in good form, winning their last two games against Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo 6-1 and 5-0. If they can do that against PSG, Barcelona will automatically qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals without the need for extra time. But clearly, Sporting Gijon and Celta Vigo cannot compare to PSG, a team that has reached the Champions League quarter-finals in the last four seasons.

Expected lineup of 2 teams. Photo: Internet.

The Paris team is in very good form in the French Football League and has prepared very well for the trip to the Nou Camp to knock this formidable opponent out of the game. Having had enough of titles in the domestic arena, PSG will certainly have to set higher goals in the European arena, specifically the Champions League, a tournament in which they have reached the quarter-finals for 4 consecutive years.

Attack strategy

In his gamble before leaving the Nou Camp in three months, coach Luis Enrique made no secret that Barcelona will use an attacking 3-4-3 formation to counter PSG, who will most likely play 4-3-3. In truth, Barcelona will have to play offensively regardless of how PSG set up their game. Of course, Lionel Messi is Barcelona's biggest hope in their most important match of the season.

Since losing to PSG in the first leg, Messi has scored 6 goals in 4 matches. In addition to Messi, coach Luis Enrique has Neymar as a big name to look forward to. This Brazilian striker is the "nemesis" of PSG when scoring 5 goals against the French representative in 5 matches. Before the match, Neymar confidently told his teammates in the Barcelona dressing room that he would score at least 2 goals against PSG. Putting Rafinha up high and playing as a midfielder is really a big gamble that coach Luis Enrique has no other choice.

The MSN trio is the biggest hope of the Nou Camp home team. Photo: Internet.

Captain Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets will play an extremely important role in this confrontation when facing midfielder Verratti, who was praised by his Italian compatriot Andre Pirlo after the first leg. Meanwhile, on the left wing, midfielder Ivan Rakitic has the task of taking care of Di Maria, PSG's best player in the first leg. The home team's left wing with Alba, Rakitic and Neymar is considered the "battle line" that decides the team's success or failure because Unai Emery's army possesses quality players on this flank. In addition to Di Maria and Verratti, defender Meunine also participates in the attack very well when needed.

Barcelona will attack, they have no other way. The absence of Aleix Vidal and Mathieu due to injury does not affect the quality of the home team's attack much.

Don't let in a goal

With 3 attacking players Cavani, Draxler and Dimaria, Barca's defense is not allowed to be careless for a moment. Even though after the first leg victory over Barca, PSG was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Toulouse, and only had 2 hard-fought victories against Niort or Nancy recently, but that only says one thing: Unai Emery is giving everything for the second leg.

Not to mention that the PSG coach is now Unai Emery, who has won the Europa League three years in a row with Sevilla, not Laurent Blanc. Unai Emery is a "cool hand" when leading a small team to face the big La Liga teams with a stealthy style of play, like a hunter stalking its prey.

Four years ago, under the late coach Tito Vilanova, Barcelona had a spectacular comeback after losing 0-2 to AC Milan in Italy but winning 4-0 in the return match at the Nou Camp. But this time with the score 0-4, we have to wait and see if there will be a miracle at the Nou Camp?

An Thanh