PSG vs Barcelona - Competition: UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain team have won nine and drawn one of 10 matches in all competitions since the start of the year, scoring 29 goals and conceding just four times. They crushed Bordeaux 3-0 in Ligue 1 at Matmut Atlantique on Friday and climbed into second place in the league standings. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona clashed in the quarter-finals back in 2015, with Luis Enrique's men running out 5-1 winners on aggregate after a 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes. The French outfit have never kept a clean sheet against Barcelona in nine matches.
Italian international Thiago Motta is out through suspension and Adrien Rabiot is expected to deputise in midfield. Marco Verratti finally made his much-anticipated return from a calf injury last weekend. Edinson Cavani will be probably flanked by Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura up front, with Julian Draxler providing a further option. Neither Javier Pastore nor Grzegorz Krychowiak are completely up to speed following a spell on the sidelines.
FC Barcelona team have lost just one of their last 22 matches in all competitions and are coming off a 6-0 thrashing of Alaves in La Liga BBVA last Saturday. In La Liga Barcelona are in second spot and with ground to make up on Real Madrid who are one point better off and they have two games in hand. They have a W8-D2-L0 record in their last 10 matches with 31 goals scored and only six conceded. In UCL the Blaugrana finished top of Group C with an impressive six-point edge over Man City, scoring 20 goals in 6 group stages.
Luis Enrique will recall the likes of Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. Full-back Alex Vidal has been ruled out and this will see Sergio Roberto start at right-back. Javier Mascherano is also missing due to a thigh injury and Samuel Umtiti is favourite to partner Pique at the back. Of course, the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar will start up front.
Probable lineups:
Paris Saint-Germain: Trapp – Aurier, Marquinhos, Silva, Kurzawa – Verratti, Rabiot, Matuidi – di Maria, Lucas, Cavani
FC Barcelona: ter Stegen – Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suarez, Neymar
PSG last 5 matches:
29/01/17 PSG 1 – 1 Monaco
01/02/17 Rennes 0 – 4 PSG
04/02/17 Dijon 1 – 3 PSG
07/02/17 PSG 2 – 1 Lille
10/02/17 Bordeaux 0 – 3 PSG
Barcelona last 5 matches:
29/01/17 Real Betis 1 – 1 Barcelona
01/02/17 Atletico Madrid 1 – 2 Barcelona
04/02/17 Barcelona 3 – 0 Athletic Club
07/02/17 Barcelona 1 – 1 Atletico Madrid
11/02/17 Deportivo Alaves 0 – 6 Barcelona
Date: 14 February 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT - 20:45 CET
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
