Champions League top match: FC Barcelona – Paris Saint Germain

After a short winter break, the Champions League will also resume this week. And how! FC Barcelona will meet strong Paris Saint Germain, last season’s finalist, in Camp Nou on Tuesday evening. Can coach Ronald Koeman kick the French champion? 

Ronald Koeman believes in his team against PSG

The machine that Ronald Koeman has put together finally seems to be running flawlessly, and that is just in time. On Tuesday, the squatter awaits PSG, the losing finalist (0-1 loss against Bayern Munich) last season. Koeman knows that advancing to the quarter-finals is a great challenge. “But we really believe we can continue. We have to do everything right to really overcome PSG.”

Statistics

FC Barcelona qualified as number two in Group G for the knockout phase. Juventus became group winner thanks to a 0-3 win in Barcelona. Both teams ended the group stage with 15 points, Juventus got the group win because of the mutual result.

Paris Saint Germain started the CL campaign very weakly. It lost the first and third games. It then seemed to get into trouble because RB Leipzig and Manchester United made score points. Thanks to three victories in a row, the French champion managed to save his life and even become group winner in Group H.

Head 2 Head: FC Barcelona – Paris Saint Germain

The last time that both top clubs met was in 2017. Also then in the context of the Champions League. Paris Saint Germain started the diptych very strong and won 4-0. However, FC Barcelona made the comeback of the century by winning 6-1 in-house and still giving the French a look.

Current form FC Barcelona

Although FC Barcelona went down in the Copa del Rey last week (2-0 loss at Sevilla), the form is generally acceptable and rising. Last weekend, the team reinforced that by winning 5-1 against Alaves.

The team of Koeman – who has now been the head coach at La Blaugrana for seven months – seems ready (just in time) for an epic battle with the French champions Paris Saint Germain.

Current form PSG

The trainer Pochettino had to get used to the change of trainer but has also gained momentum. At the end of January, they lost 3-2 to the puny Lorient, but then followed four victories: three in Ligue 1 and one in the Coupe de France. Last weekend, Nice put aside 2-1. Mitchel Bakker came in for Draxler (the 1-0) maker, and Xavi Simons was in the match selection but did not play. He was allowed to participate in the 0-1 cup match against Caen. Even then, Draxler was the player who was replaced to bring a Dutchman into the lines.

What do the bookies predict for FC Barcelona – Paris Saint Germain?

Online bookmakers are betting on a profit for FC Barcelona. A winning prediction on the home team will get you as good as twice your amount of money invested: x 1.98. Will Paris St. Germain in Spain take an essential step towards the Champions League quarter-finals by winning this away match? Then you can score big with a pre-odd of x 3.20. In case of a tie, the profit bonus increases a little more. On average, you take almost four times your stake. You are currently paid out x 3.80 times the amount you bet if you place a correct prediction on a draw at the several bookmakers.