Barcelona hosts Paris Saint-Germain this Tuesday (16) with the hope of leaving behind the ghosts of the past towards the Champions League semi-finals, while Atlético de Madrid hopes to confirm its advantage over Borussia Dortmund in a duel difficult in front of the German fans at Signal Iduna Park, in Germany.
The Catalans won 3-2 at Parque dos Príncipes last week, in the first leg of the competition’s quarter-finals, and are seeking their first qualification to the semis since 2019.
“It’s time to be proud. It’s a game to say that Barça is alive,” said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández after the match in Paris.
Although the advantage is minimal, history favors the Catalans, as PSG never managed to qualify after suffering a defeat in the first game of a European championship.
With a young squad, ‘Barça’ hopes to repeat the good performance of striker Lamine Yamal, 16, and defender Pau Cubarsí, 17, who is already proving to be an essential piece in the Spanish team’s defense.
The defender’s starting position is practically certain, as Danish defender Andreas Christensen is suspended and captain Sergi Roberto will also be left out of the game for the same reason.
Cubarsí’s calmness in defense and Yamal’s vigor in attack will be fundamental on Tuesday against a PSG team that will have no other solution than to seek victory.
“The game with Barcelona is a final and we have to win it,” said the French team’s coach, Luis Enrique, after the defeat in Paris, convinced that “we can achieve it.”
This is the golden opportunity for Kylian Mbappé to shine, after being held back by the Catalans in the first game.
With the announcement that he will not continue at PSG at the end of the season, all eyes are on the French striker, who is the hope of victory on Tuesday.
Endurance test in Dortmund
In the other match of the day, Atlético de Madrid will try to keep their momentum going against Borussia Dortmund in a duel in which they will also face the huge German crowd at Signal Iduna Park.
Diego Simeoni’s team won the first game 2-1, but had the opportunity for a more elastic victory.
“We will have to suffer there, play the game and win. We have the level to advance to the semi-finals”, said striker Antoine Griezmann, named best player of the match last Wednesday.
With six goals in the championship, the Frenchman is tied with his compatriot Mbappé and Erling Haaland (Manchester City) for second place in the Champions League scoring charts, behind only Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), who has seven goals scored.
With Álvaro Morata in attack and without left-back Samuel Lino, who has been suspended, Simeone will need to find the formula for victory, after saying last week that the team will “suffer” this Tuesday.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said, in turn, that the result of the first game “leaves the door open”.
Counting on the support of the powerful ‘yellow wall’, the German team will enter the field without Ivorian Sebastien Haller, who was injured at the weekend, but will have the return of striker Donyell Malen.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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