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It's four years ago this week that Barcelona completed their famous second leg comeback against PSG. The French side held a 4-0 lead going into that game, and while they are 4-1 up from the first leg this year, we shouldn't expect a repeat of one of the Champions League's greatest ever nights.

Kylian Mbappe ran riot in Spain with a hat-trick. All four of PSG's goals came after going behind to a Lionel Messi penalty and Barca's need to attack will surely suit the hosts here. We saw them get forward with explosive pace and this contest presents an opportunity to do that again.

Perhaps the memories of that famous night at the Camp Nou will still haunt some of those still in Paris but this Barcelona team just doesn't have the same feel to the one that overturned that huge deficit. There is a best price of 25/1 on Barca qualifying for the next round - a bet that will be backed through sentiment rather than present day by some.


Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Wednesday

TV channel: BT Sport 2


Will Barcelona make PSG nervous?

Since the tactical switch, Dest has seen three shots across his last two LaLiga appearances. That is a significant jump when we compare it to the season average, with six shots coming in his previous 18 league games. He has scored this season with a group stage goal against Dynamo Kyiv.

Even at full-back he's possessed an attacking threat. Alba has seen 15 shots in his last 15 LaLiga contests and had two from left midfield against Osasuna. He could benefit from an aggressive start from the visitors and the 40/1 on him netting the first goal is generous if they stick with the system, particularly as it gives around 13/1 on the anytime odds.

Both players are worth a small stakes play each-way on the first goal in this game. The importance of that first goal could not be clearer and Barcelona know they have to get it. With the likes of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann all shorter prices, I'm willing to gamble on DEST and ALBA being involved early on.

Early goal may not be enough

We know Barcelona have been good for scoring first in recent games and that will put them in a good position for a half-time lead. They may have hope at one stage, but this should be PSG's night, even if the main questions afterwards will be on Lionel Messi's potential final appearance in the competition for Barca.


PSG v Barcelona best bets and score prediction

  • 0.5pts e.w. Sergino Dest to score first at 80/1 (Sky Bet) (e.w. terms 1/3 odds 1-99 places)
  • 0.5pts e.w. Jordi Alba to score first at 40/1 (bet365) (e.w. terms 1/3 odds 1-98 places)
  • 0.5pts Barcelona/PSG in HT/FT at 22/1 (Sky Bet)

Score prediction: PSG 2-1 Barcelona ()

Odds correct at 1425 GMT (08/03/21)


Opta facts

  • Paris SG have won two of their last three games against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League (L1), as many victories as they managed against the Catalan side in their first eight meetings in the competition (W2 D3 L3).
  • In the history of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, no team has ever progressed from a knockout tie over two legs after losing the first leg at home by a margin of three goals.
  • This will be the first UEFA Champions League meeting between Paris SG and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes since February 2017, when the home side recorded a 4-0 victory. This remains Paris SG’s biggest margin of victory in a home knockout game in the UEFA Champions League, while it’s also Barcelona’s joint-heaviest defeat in a knockout game away from home in the competition (also 0-4 v Liverpool in May 2019 and v Bayern in April 2013).
  • Following defeats against Juventus and Paris SG in their last two games in the competition, Barcelona will face the prospect of losing three in a row in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
  • If Kylian Mbappé scores for Paris SG in this game, he will become the youngest player to reach 25 goals in the UEFA Champions League, aged 22 years and 80 days. The current youngest player to reach 25 goals in the competition is Lionel Messi, who was 22 years and 286 days old when he reached the milestone in April 2010 against Arsenal.

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