PSG vs Barcelona: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

The Parc des Princes hosts PSG and Barcelona this Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League Quarter Final. Though PSG are flying in their domestic league, both sides will be looking to take a big lead into the second leg.

Date: 10/04/2024

Kick off time: 20:00

Location: Parc des Princes

PSG are dominating in Ligue 1 as has been the usual recently, whereas Barcelona are snapping at the ankles of Real Madrid for the top spot in La Liga. However, a big win in the first leg is of utmost importance, with both sides wanting the upperhand in the return leg.

PSG finished second in the “group of death”, facing Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle. In six games, The Parisians have two wins, two draws and two losses which left them on eight points, three points behind Dortmund and only beating Milan to qualify on goal difference.

The Parisians are once again on the look for their first ever Champions League win. The furthest PSG have ever gotten in the Champions League is the Final in the 2019/20 season, where they lost 1 - 0 to Bayern Munich. The next season saw them progress all the way to the Semi Finals where they were beaten 3 - 1 on aggregate by Manchester City.

Barcelona, however, finished top of Group H, beating out the likes of Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp. In six games, Barcelona have four wins and two losses, leaving them on 12 points, equal with Porto but ahead on head to head.

The Blaugrana, on the other hand, have lifted the trophy on four occasions, and have made one other Final. However, the furthest Barcelona have made it since their 3 - 1 win over Juventus in the 2015 Final, is the Semi Finals in 2019, where they lost 8 - 2 to Bayern Munich on aggregate.

In the Champions League, PSG and Barcelona have met just 12 times, the first meeting coming back in the 1995 Quarter Finals. Nothing separates the two sides, with both PSG and Barcelona picking up four wins each, with the other four games ending in a draw.

The most iconic meetings between these two sides were back in 2017, in the Round of 16. The first leg saw PSG grab a massive 4 - 0 win, with two goals from Angel Di Maria and goals from Julian Draxler and Edison Cavani. However, the second leg was dubbed “La Remontanda” (The Comeback) as even with a goal from Cavani, an own goal from Layvin Kurzawa, a brace from Neymar and goals from Lusi Suarez, Lionel Messi and Sergi Roberto gave Barcelona the 6 - 1 win and a 6 - 5 win on aggregate.

Barcelona Team News

Xavi will be without Gavi and Alejandro Balde for the foreseeable future. However, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Andreas Christensen can all return this week.

PSG Team News

Luis Enrique will be without Presnel Kimpembe, Sergio Rico, Marquinhos, Marco Asensio and Bradley Barcola this week.

In their last five games in all competitions, PSG have four wins and one draw.

The Quarter Final of the French Cup saw PSG host Nice. Kylian Mbappe and Fabian Ruiz gave PSG the 2 - 0 lead just after the 30 minute mark. Gaetan Laborde did get Nice on the scoresheet before halftime, but a goal from Lucas Beraldo on the stroke of the hour gave PSG the 3 - 1 win.

Back in Ligue 1, PSG travelled to Montpellier. Vitinha opened the scoring for PSG and Mbappe’s first goal doubled the lead, however a goal from Arnaud Nordin and a penalty from Teji Tedy Savanier made it level at halftime. In the second half, Mbappe completed his hat-trick and was joined on the scoresheet by Lee Kang-in and Nuno Mendes in the 6 - 2 win for PSG.

Another away trip saw PSG in Marseille. Despite Marseille having 14 more shots and seven more shots on target than PSG, goals from Vitinha and Goncalo Ramos both scored to give PSG the 2 - 0 win, despite the red card to Beraldo in the first half.

The Semi Final of the French Cup saw PSG take on Rennes. The Parisians had 70% of the possession and the goal from Mbappe was the only one of the game in the 1 - 0 win for PSG.

The last time out for PSG was against Clermont Foot. Habib Keita gave Clermont Foot the shock lead at halftime. This lead was held onto until the closing minutes of the game where Ramos picked up a goal to rescue a 1 - 1 draw for PSG.

In their last five games in all competitions, Barcelona have four wins and one draw.

The trip to Athletic Club saw both sides only manage two shots on target in 90 minutes. Even with 61% of the possession, Barcelona were unable to find the back of the net and played out a 0 - 0 draw.

Barcelona were back on the scoresheet against Mallorca. The Blaugrana were able to convert one of their 20 shots, with Lamine Yamal scoring in the 73rd minute to give Barcelona the 1 - 0 win.

The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 saw Barcelona host Napoli. Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo both scored before the 20 minute mark but Amir Rrahmani got Napoli on the scoresheet before halftime. However, Robert Lewandowski scored late on to secure the Barcelona 3 - 1 win.

Back in La Liga, Barcelona took on Atletico Madrid. Joao Felix, Lewandowski and Lopez all scored in the 3 - 0 win for Barcelona, with Nahuel Molina picking up a red card for Atletico in added time.

The most recent outing for Barcelona was against Las Palmas. The early red card to Las Palmas’ Alvaro Valles in the 24th minute opened the game and Raphinha’s goal in the 59th minute was the only goal of the game in the 1 - 0 win for Barcelona.

Despite being in good form, Barcelona aren’t likely to be the team taking the win into the second leg. However, Xavi’s side are likely to be on the scoresheet at least. We predict PSG 2-1 Barcelona

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PSG vs Barcelona will be broadcasted on TNT Sports 1 and can also be followed online on BBC Sport or Sky Sports.

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