The absence of Neymar and the ambitions of the Parisians

The opposition between Barcelona and PSG always arouses particular interest among the fans.

If the Catalans are considered a recognized grandee, then one of the main football nouveau riches, despite serious financial investments, for a long time could not confirm this status and achieve success in the Champions League, being content with victories in domestic tournaments, which, of course, could not satisfy the club's management.

And often it was the blue garnet that got in the way of the ambitious team.

However, last season, the Parisians made it to the final of the main European Cup, where they lost only to Bayern Munich with a minimum score.

At the same time, the blue garnet in the quarterfinals lost to Munich with a large score - 2: 8.

Now PSG will have to meet again with Barça in the 1/8 finals of the Champions League.

Four years ago, the French team at this stage of the tournament here, at the Camp Nou, suffered a crushing defeat (1: 6) after a major home victory (4: 0) and was eliminated from the Champions League.

One of the main characters of that meeting was Neymar, who made a double.

In the same summer, he moved to the rival camp for a record € 222 million (according to Transfermarkt).

The confrontation between the Brazilian and the former team, as well as his friend Lionel Messi, was expected by the whole world with great interest.

However, the striker will not take part in the first match.

He was injured in the French Cup game against Caen and will recover at best by the return leg.

Another key player for the guests will not enter the field, Angel Di Maria.

But the head coach of the guests, Mauricio Pochettino, does not see this as a problem.

“Yes, important players will miss the match.

But the team sleeps and sees how to enter the field as soon as possible, and will give all its strength for the sake of victory.

The team has an extraordinary atmosphere and unity.

These players want to do something for the club and its history.

We want PSG to have its own character, ”the UEFA official website quotes the specialist as saying.

The list of Barcelona's losses is also quite impressive (Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati, Philippe Coutinho), but all the leaders of the Spanish team remained in the ranks, and this fact makes it the favorite of the upcoming match.

Moreover, Ronald Koeman's wards in 2021 gained serious progress.

In the new year, they won all seven Example matches.

The only defeat was in the Cup of the country.

The blue garnet in the first semifinal meeting of the tournament lost to Sevilla - 0: 2.

Got in excellent shape and Messi.

He has not left the field without a goal in the last five matches of the national championship.

In these games, he scored eight goals and scored a brace three times.

At the same time, on the eve of the match, both countries are actively discussing the possible transfer of the Argentine to PSG.

And the French edition of "France Football" in early February came out with a cover in which the six-time winner of the Ballon d'Or was depicted in the uniform of a Parisian.

Even Di Maria did not rule out that the transfer of his compatriot is quite possible.

In turn, Koeman regarded Di Maria's comment on this topic as a sign of disrespect for Barcelona.

“Messi is the best player in the world.

We need him to be in top shape on Tuesday.

Kilian Mbappe is very fast and capable of causing a lot of problems, but we are preparing for a good game, because such matches should be enjoyed, ”Koeman also noted.

The matches with PSG have always been quite successful for Lionel.

In eight games, he scored four goals and gave one assist.

In general, in the confrontation between the teams, the advantage is on the side of the Catalans: five wins, three draws and three defeats.

In the Champions League playoffs, their paths crossed four times, and in three cases the Spanish team went further.

In the 2012/13 Champions League quarter-finals, the teams drew twice (1: 1, 2: 2), and the blue garnet went further thanks to more goals scored away.

At a similar stage of the tournament in 2015, the Spanish team looked much more confident than their opponent and won two victories (3: 1 away, 2: 0 at home).

Finally, in 2017, he made a historic comeback, recouping after a 0-4 defeat in Paris.

At the same time at home, Barça usually looks a lot stronger than PSG.

In five matches at Camp Nou, the Catalans have not suffered a single defeat with two draws, and in the last three meetings they have won three victories with a total score of 11: 2.

Liverpool Crisis and Leipzig's Good Move

Equally interesting is the confrontation between the semifinalist of the tournament in 2020, Leipzig and the winner of the trophy following the results of the season before last, Liverpool.

It is curious that the first match will not take place in Leipzig, as originally planned, but on neutral territory in Budapest.

The meeting had to be postponed due to quarantine restrictions in Germany.

One way or another, the Lersisiders approach the European Cup match in the role of a "wounded beast".

In the Premier League, they suffered three defeats in a row (from Brighton, Manchester City and Leicester) with a total score of 2-8 and dropped to sixth in the standings.

In this situation, even Jurgen Klopp admitted that it was unrealistic to win back 13 points behind Manchester City and defend the title.

The infallible goalkeeper Alison Becker, who made several productive mistakes at once, showed himself not in the best way in these meetings.

Along the way, the Reds flew out of the FA Cup, losing to Manchester United.

Therefore, only a successful performance in the Champions League will help the team save the season, especially since last year it dropped out of the fight already at the first stage of the playoffs, letting Atletico go ahead.

“We must not lose the good that is in our game.

If you've seen the matches against City and Leicester, we didn't look like a team that could have scored two goals, but conceded seven.

This was due to individual errors that we discussed.

The mood is good, but, of course, it has been better, "- quotes the words of Klopp before the match, the UEFA official website.

Leipzig is doing much better this year.

Julian Nagelsmann's wards have won four consecutive victories in all tournaments and are in second place in the Bundesliga table.

Now the young coach has the opportunity to take revenge on a more experienced compatriot.

In 2017, the paths of the German specialists crossed in the playoff round of the Champions League qualification.

Nagelsmann was just starting his career at Hoffenheim and for the first time in history brought the team to the main European competition.

Opposing Liverpool did not work out on equal terms.

On the road, the Reds won with a score of 2: 1, and at home they scored four goals into the opponent's goal - 4: 2.

At the same time, even then many people called Julian nothing but the New Klopp.

This time, he really has a good chance of stopping his colleague.

Serious staffing problems can prevent an opponent from reaching the quarterfinals.

At least six people will not take part in the first match at once: Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and Divock Origi.

It is likely that Ozan Kabak, a center-back on loan from Schalke, will make his Champions League debut with Liverpool.

Losses of "Leipzig", on the contrary, are minimal: Konrad Leimer and Benjamin Henriks.

“We are on track now and have won the last four matches.

And yet, if Liverpool play well, they will be the favorite.

However, we have proved that we can play on equal terms with the European giants, ”Nagelsman recalled.