Barcelona vs PSG: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

Barcelona have one foot in the semi-final ahead of this second leg tie with PSG. The hosts are looking to make the next stage of the competition for the first time since 2019.

Date: 16/04/24

Kick-off time: 20:00

Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

After last week’s 3-2 victory for Barcelona, PSG have some work to do if they are to overturn this deficit and advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League. The first leg was a thoroughly entertaining fixture, though most of the goals occurred in the second half. The opening goal came prior to the break, and it was Raphinha who netted it for Barca. The Brazilian took advantage of a vacant net to put his side in front. The equaliser came from former Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, who cut back out onto his left foot and smashed the ball past a helpless Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Vitinha made it 2-1 in a matter of minutes after he was found making a run into the box and he slotted it home into the left corner. It was end-to-end action but Raphinha bagged his second after an exquisite pass from Pedri, which allowed the winger to finish first time. The winner came from substitute Andreas Christensen, who headed in from a corner with his first touch of the game.

PSG’s away form in this year’s competition has been poor, with just one win in four. However, this did come in the Round of 16 against Real Sociedad. They were winless in their three away group games against Newcastle, where they lost 4-1, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund. In contrast, Barcelona have won every game they have hosted, scoring 12 goals in four games. This figure is boosted by a 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp on match day one of the group stages.

The last time these two sides met in the knockout stages of the Champions League was in the 2020/21 season, in which PSG were victorious 5-2 on aggregate, which included a 4-1 win at the Nou Camp. This week’s fixture will not be played at the famous stadium, but PSG have had some mixed results away from home against Barcelona. In 2017, they were on the end of arguably the greatest European comeback ever, as they lost 6-1 in the second leg, after entering the game with a 4-0 lead. They were also winless in the four games before that.

Barcelona

Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto will both miss the game through suspension after picking up yellow cards in the first leg. Gavi and Alex Balde are out for the season with injury, but they have no new fitness concerns otherwise.

PSG

Nordi Mukiele has been absent with a concussion, whilst Presnel Kimpembe is continuing his recovery from a torn Achilles.

Barcelona

In their last five games, Barcelona have been perfect, winning all of them. It has been a very good few weeks for Barcelona as they head into the final stretch of the season. Focus had been on European action to start this run, as they hosted Napoli in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League. The first leg had ended 1-1, but Barca advanced with a 3-1 win, sending them through 4-2 on aggregate. The hosts went two up through Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo, before the Italians pulled one back. Robert Lewandowski added some insurance late on.

This set up a quarter-final tie with PSG, and they won the first leg 3-2 in a thriller. They took a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Raphinha. However, the game was soon turned around after the break with goals from ex-Barca man Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. Raphinha scored once more to level it, before substitute Andreas Christensen netted the winner just after coming onto the pitch.

Between these ties, Barca faced rivals Atletico Madrid, and they comfortably won 3-0 away from home. Loanee Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez were all on the scoresheet. A 1-0 win against Las Palmas further strengthened their top four position. Their task was made much easier when their opponents were reduced to 10 men after 24 minutes. Raphinha scored the only goal of the game with half an hour to go. Their most recent game was a trip to relegation threatened Cadiz, and they returned home with a narrow 1-0 win. Felix’s 37th minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.

PSG

In their last five games, PSG have won three, drawn one and lost one. It has been a mixed run of form for the French side as they have competed across three different competitions. Firstly they took on Montpellier in Ligue 1, and enjoyed a very comfortable 6-2 away win. Vitinha opened the scoring early, before Kylian Mbappe scored the first of his three goals to double their advantage. However, the hosts managed to peg them back at 2-2 before the break. Mbappe quickly restored the lead shortly after the restart with Lee Kang-In adding a fourth three minutes later. The Frenchman completed his hat-trick to make it five and Nuno Mendes completed the rout with a minute remaining.

They followed this with another away victory, winning 2-0 at Marseille. Vitinha scored again, despite Lucas Beraldo seeing red for PSG. Goncalo Ramos gave them some much needed breathing room with five minutes to go. They turned their attentions to the French Cup, as they booked their place in the final of the tournament with a 1-0 triumph over Rennes. Mbappe scored the winner just before half-time. Their only dropped points in this stretch came at home to the league’s bottom side Clermont Foot. They were lucky to leave with a point, as the visitors were a goal up 35 minutes into the game. The away side managed to hold on for the majority, but could not see it through as Ramos scored in the 85th minute.

Their most recent game was first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Spanish giants Barcelona. The Spaniards have the advantage as they won 3-2 in Paris. PSG came from behind to take the lead with goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha, but Barca turned it around to put one foot in the door of the semi-finals.

Barcelona have the advantage of returning home with a lead, and despite the presence of Kylian Mbappe, we expect this to be a position they do not relinquish. At home they should avoid defeat and book their place in the semi-finals of the tournament – Barcelona 2-2 PSG

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Barcelona vs PSG will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1.

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