Challenged as rarely in Ligue 1, the Parisians are preparing to face FC Barcelona in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, Tuesday evening (9 pm), a shock to follow on Europe 1. For both teams, this meeting is more than just a game, especially in terms of finances and image.

DECRYPTION

"Més que une match", one might say.

While the motto of FC Barcelona, ​​"Més que un club", has been visible for a year on the usual seats of Camp Nou, the Champions League meeting between Barça and Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening ( 9 pm, to be followed live and in full on Europe 1), takes on an issue that goes far beyond the sporting aspect.

Four years after the historic comeback, a defeat in these round of 16 (the return match will take place in Paris on March 10) would be a huge blow to either of these favorites.

Capital economic stake

Paris Saint-Germain thus estimates the shortfall at more than 200 million euros this season because of the Covid-19 crisis.

A good run in the Champions League could limit the damage.

Last year, reaching the final, the capital club pocketed 134 million euros in earnings.

For FC Barcelona, ​​it's even worse.

The Catalan club's debt exceeds one billion euros.

The salary of its stars weighs heavily in the finances of the club.

According to the revelations of the Spanish daily

El Mundo

, the contract of the Argentinian Lionel Messi, sixfold Golden Ball, would have cost Barça the trifle of 555 million euros.

Laporta confident for Messi

The situation of Lionel Messi is also one of the big issues of Tuesday night's game, because the Argentinian is at the end of his contract next June and can therefore sign where he wants.

However, PSG is one of the few clubs that can afford it.

Lionel Messi has become more than a sporting issue: it is a political issue, because the Catalan club must elect its future president next month.

"

I will see the economic possibility for Barca to make a proposal to Leo Messi, for him to continue

"

And depending on the candidate who will be elected, Lionel Messi will stay or go elsewhere.

The big favorite of this election is called Joan Laporta, already president of Barça from 2003 to 2010. Rare in the French media, the former president of the club told Europe 1 that he would do everything to keep Messi.

"I will see the economic possibility for Barca to make a proposal to Leo Messi, for him to continue. I am very convinced that Leo will stay at Barca," he said.

Neymar, luxury sales rep?

In this file, the PSG is not even hiding any more.

"We are seated at the big table of those who follow the file closely," sporting director Leonardo recently told

France Football

.

"Actually, we haven't been seated yet, but our chair is just reserved just in case."

Finally, the last point that is important in Paris, the club has in its ranks a luxury salesperson, Neymar, injured for this first leg and uncertain for the return.

According to information from our colleagues from

L'Équipe

, the Brazilian would have praised the charms of the capital club to Lionel Messi.